The Ministry of Customs and Revenue has invited bids that would supply, commission, guarantee and train staff in the use of Samoa’s very first container x-ray scanner.

The announcement by the MCR – through an “invitation for bids” public notice – has given a deadline of August 3, 2020 for all bids to be submitted.

According to the public notice, the Samoa Government has received funding from the Asian Development Bank [A.D.B.] for the container x-ray scanner. 

“Bidding is open to bidders from eligible source countries of [the Asian Development Bank],” the bid invitation reads.

“International competitive bidding will be conducted in accordance with Asian Development Bank's single-stage: one-envelope without prequalification procedure and is open to all bidders from eligible countries.” To be eligible to bid for the awarding of the contract, bidders must meet [the] financial and technical qualification criteria.

“Successful completion as main supplier within the last 3 years, of at least five contracts each valued at US$3 million with nature, and complexity similar to the scope of supply of this contract.

“[The] minimum average annual turnover of US$5 million calculated as total payments received by the bidder for contracts completed or under execution over the last [three] years. 

The new scanner is expected to boost and improve security, ensuring no drugs or weapons are smuggled into or out of Samoa with all screening to be done at the border.

Last year in September, the Government signed a US$62.26 [ $166.8 million tala] project agreement with the A.D.B. to upgrade the Apia Port to make it safer, more efficient and more environmentally sustainable.

A portion of the project fund toward the cost of enhancing safety, security, and sustainability of Apia Port has been allocated to financing payments of the x-ray scanner.

Samoa’s contribution to the project is US$12.77 million [$34.29 million tala].