Puerto Rico puts out to tender new hospital construction

Puerto Rico is putting out to tender construction of Vieques hospital, the first stage of which was due to be ready this year but was pushed back to 2023. 

The facilities were closed in 2017 due to structural damage caused by Hurricane María and were demolished in May this year. 

Health minister Carlos Mellado told newspaper El Vocero that delays in construction of the new hospital were caused by the complexity of building on Nena island, and bureaucratic procedures to receive funds from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“It has been completely demolished. The first stage [of construction] was supposed to be ready at the end of this year, but it could take a little longer… maybe mid-2023 or at the end of it we will have the dialysis center and the beginning of [construction of the] emergency room,” he said in an interview with the paper. 

Puerto Rico’s authority for infrastructure financing (AFI), meanwhile, launched the tender to “design and build new medical facilities in Vieques municipality.” The work includes the dialysis building, waiting rooms, emergency rooms for children and adults, minor surgery rooms, a heliport and other facilities.

The bidding terms can be acquired until August 26 by paying US$100. A videoconference will be held on August 29, and the date to submit proposals is September 19. They will be opened the next day.

According to El Vocero, construction will cost US$60mn, with most of the amount to be provided by FEMA.