NCC Had Endorsed, Then Revoked Cenitech After Cabinet Approval of Contracts

There have been questions raised about the announcement of the award of contracts to Cenitech Engineering Solutions Ltd. which has been de-registered as a Works Grades 1 – 4 contractor by the National Contracts Commission.

The award of the contracts was done following the endorsement of the National Contracts Commission.

We are providing a timeline to show the process followed for the award of the contracts and their subsequent announcement.

• On December 2, 2013, the Infrastructure Subcommittee of Cabinet considered a Submission from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries which was received by the Cabinet Office on November 27, 2013, recommending the award of the two (2) contracts for the construction of houses at Stokes Hall and Hampton Court , St Thomas, under the Barracks Relocation Project of the Sugar Transformation Programme.
• The Infrastructure Subcommittee considered copies of two letters dated November 22, 2013 each, from the Chairman of the National Contracts Commission, and addressed to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, indicating the following:
i. Construction of Houses at Stokes Hall, St. Thomas
“The National Contracts Commission (NCC) having considered the matter at its meeting held on 2013 November 20 has endorsed the recommendation to award a contract to Cenitech Engineering Solutions in the sum of Four Hundred and Sixty-five Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-two Thousand, One Hundred and Eight-three Dollars and Twenty-three Cents (J$465,852,183.23);”

ii. Construction of Houses at Hampton Court, St. Thomas
“ The National Contracts Commission (NCC) having considered the matter at its meeting held on 2013 November 20 has endorsed the recommendation to award a contract to Cenitech Engineering Solutions in the sum of Two hundred and Sixty-seven Million, Twenty- nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy dollars and Nineteen Cents ($267,029,870.19).”
• Cabinet approved the recommendation for the award of the two (2) contracts at its meeting on December 2, 2013, the same day the meeting of the Infrastructure Sub Committee of Cabinet was held.
The Cabinet had no meeting on December 9, 2013.

Cabinet met on December 16, 2013, and ratified the decisions taken at the December 2, 2013, meeting.

During this meeting Cabinet was never made aware that there was an issue with Cenitech Engineering Solutions.

• On December 16, 2013, following the Cabinet Meeting, the Cabinet Secretary received a letter dated December 13, 2013, from the Chairman of the NCC, indicating the following:

“The National Contracts Commission (NCC) wishes to advise the Cabinet Office that based on the results of an investigation carried out by the Contractor General into the operation and registration of Cenitech Engineering Solutions Limited, the NCC, at its meeting held on 2013 December 11, took the decision to revoke the registration of Cenitech Engineering Solutions Limited as a Works Grades 1-4 contractor with immediate effect.

Cenitech Engineering Solutions Limited has been advised of the revocation of its registration with the NCC and the Cabinet Office is requested to issue a circular to all Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Entities informing them of the revocation of Cenitech Engineering Solutions Limited’s registration.

Thank you for your kind cooperation in the matter.”

• A letter dated December 16, 2013, from the Cabinet Secretary was dispatched on December 17, 2013, advising Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments of the revocation by the NCC, of the registration of Cenitech Engineering Solutions Limited.

When the Minister of Information reported on Cabinet decisions at the Jamaica House Media Briefing on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, she had not been advised that there was an issue with Cenitech.