Issue
The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) – a statutory Agency established by the Government of the Virgin Islands with the purpose of ensuring the timely and proper implementation and execution of the Recovery to Development Plan of the Virgin Islands; is diligently making arrangements for the safe removal and disposal of approximately 200 (subject to change) derelict vessels which remain stranded along the coastlines and bays of the British Virgin Islands following the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.

These vessels have no remaining value and are to be treated as waste.  They will be removed from their current locations to a Staging Area, for further processing and eventual disposal/recycling.  This is the act of stripping all metals, batteries, woods, hazardous material, fuels and oil, and fibreglass and separating into waste streams for appropriate disposal/recycling. Works will be undertaken in adherence to an Environmental Management Plan.

RDA’s Response
A formal invitation to tender (ITT) will be issued by the RDA inviting both local and international interested parties to submit tenders for these works. Due to the size, complexity and estimated budget for this activity, it is a requirement of the RDA’s Procurement Policy and General Procurement Procedures to open this business opportunity to local as well as international participation.

Tenders will be invited mainly for the removal and transportation of the derelict vessels as well as the processing of these vessels at the staging area. Interested parties will be able to bid on one, many or all the Work Packages.

This business opportunity (for local and international participation) will address the removal and processing of derelict vessels in the following areas Work Packages:

1. Vessel Removal at Beef Island Group
2. Vessel Removal East End Group
3. Vessel Removal JVD
4. Vessel Removal Nanny Cay
5. Vessel Removal Outliers (individual vessels in isolated locations)
6. Vessel Removal Paraquita Bay
7. Vessel Removal Road Town
8. Vessel Removal Sea Cows Bay
9. Vessel Removal West End
10. Set up of staging site and processing of vessel into waste streams suitable for recycling and disposal

Timeframe for vessel removal
The likely timeframe for vessel removal is dependent on the legal and contractual procedures of the RDA and the Shipping Registry being completed as well as the response of the market through the tender/bidding process. Solicitation/Invitation to Tender documents for the various packages should be sent to market by 18 March 2019 and after the required selection and contracting procedures are complied with, it is likely that the removal of the derelict boats will commence by the end of May 2019.

Please note that this press release is NOT a request for Expressions of Interest nor an Invitation to Tender and interested parties are NOT expected to respond.                               

                                                                                       
The Procurement Unit
Recovery and Development Agency
Email: procurement@bvirecovery.vg
Tel No: 393 - 8003