The General Secretariat of the Tender Board announced that during Q1 of this year 3,056 tenders were issued through the electronic tendering system Esnad for entities subject to the Tender Law, with a total value exceeding RO 584 million. These tenders encompassed several developmental and service projects across various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman.
Among the most notable tenders issued this year are the expansion of the Muscat Expressway, the construction of Al-Falah Hospital in the South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, and the implementation of the dual carriageway connecting Al Kamil Wal Wafi, Jalan Bani Bu Hassan, and Jalan Bani Bu Ali. Additionally, a unified municipal system and the creation of a resource market in the Wilayat of Sinaw in the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate were included, as well as the rehabilitation of the existing road from Al Hazm to Al Washil in the Wilayat of Rustaq.
By the end of Q1 2024, approximately 22 tenders were awarded, amounting to over RO 136 million, compared to the same period last year, where 20 tenders were awarded.
Key tenders awarded this year include the completion of the remaining works on the Al Sharqiyah Expressway Project (Part Two – Phase Two) from Al Kamil Wal Wafi to Sur in the South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, consultancy services for the design and supervision of the proposed development of Musandam Airport, and the supply of laboratory materials for the Ministry of Health. The national program for CEOs and the provision of high-quality buses for government entities (framework agreement) were also significant.
Additionally, the tenders included a framework agreement for the printing and supply of textbooks for four academic years for the Ministry of Education, the design and construction of a 40-classroom basic education school for girls in Al Tayyib, Wilayat of Ibri, Al Dhahirah Governorate, and a co-educational basic education school with 36 classrooms for grades (1-4) in Hay Al Baraka, Barakat Al Mouz, Wilayat of Nizwa. The completion of additional works on the Al Batinah Expressway Project (Fifth Package) and the Sohar Gate Road (Free Zone Link) was also part of the tenders awarded.
The tenders also included support and maintenance of the water licensing system for the Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources, and legal arbitration services for the Muscat International Airport and Salalah Airport Project (Twelfth Package). The design and construction of 12 school buildings in various governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, and the construction of 20 housing units and maintenance of 32 housing units in the Wilayat of Shaleem and Al Hallaniyat Islands, Dhofar Governorate, were also included.
Eng Badr bin Salem al Maamari, Secretary-General of the Tender Board, stated that the Secretariat has worked on enhancing tender procedures, developing models related to boosting local content in contracts and tenders, and monitoring their implementation to ensure local value addition from government project and procurement spending. This includes activating unified procurement procedures to achieve the best value and service, and applying various frameworks and methodologies to ensure efficiency and speed in project execution, reduce change orders, and adhere to approved financial budgets.
He added that the General Secretariat of the Tender Board has provided many facilities for companies, including measures to facilitate tendering for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local companies, such as exemption from registration fees for SMEs, symbolic prices for purchasing tender documents, and exemption from providing temporary insurance in tenders.
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