Honduras to launch third tender to build offshore prison

Honduran authorities announced that a second bidding process to build an offshore prison complex in Cisne Islands has failed, local media reported. 

The commander of the military police (PMOP), Ramiro Muñoz said that the process will be relaunched in the coming days.

“We will launch the process this week and we will do it as many times as needed,” he was quoted as saying by daily Hondudiario. 

In the last week of August, officials announced that the first bidding process had been unsuccessful. Muñoz said that none of the companies invited to participate were able to present bank guarantees. 

“It is a simple requirement but very significant. Some international companies want to present foreign bank guarantees but the state’s procurement law does not allow it,” Muñoz added. “Nobody will sign a contract without a bank guarantee because it is the insurance payment for the State if the works are abandoned.”

The official explained that two companies participated in the first tender, and at least three took part in the second.

The environmental license was approved in July after many delays. According to daily El Heraldo, the environmental authority stated that “the damage caused to the environment as a result of the studies, analysis and research will be the contractor’s responsibility, who will resolve it assuming the entire cost.”