Roundup: Idaan tenders, new NWC president, Negril wastewater treatment plant

Panama's state-owned water and sanitation utility Idaan has tendered commercial services for districts Panamá Metro, Colón, Panamá Oeste and Arraiján. Idaan has set a reference price of US$6.36mn for the three-year contract, which involves reading meters and distributing water bills. Interested firms have until April 7 to present bids, according to the tender notice on state procurement website PanamaCompra. *** Idaan has also tendered a consultancy to improve and expand the sewerage system in Puerto Armuelles district in westernmost Chiriquí province. The winning firm will complete an analysis of the existing system, studies to determine the best technical and environmentally sound plans to provide adequate sewerage and wastewater treatment systems for the district for the next 30 years. The 240 day-contract also includes completing final designs and defining costs for the system, according to the tender document. Idaan has set a reference price of US$400,000 for the consultancy. Bids are due April 8 and will be opened the same day. *** The utility has awarded a US$1.61mn contract to firm Synapsis Colombia to manage, support, operate and maintain its commercial information systems. The firm will also maintain Idaan's database and backups during the three-year contract, according to the award notice on PanamaCompra. *** Jamaica's water and housing minister Horace Chang has announced that Albert Gordon, acting president of the National Water Commission ( NWC), will officially take on the role as of April 1. Gordon previously served as VP of project administration and VP of corporate and strategic planning at NWC. *** Also in Jamaica, work has begun on repairs and improvements for the Negril wastewater treatment plant in westernmost Westmoreland parish, JIS reported. The project will cost some J$278mn (US$3.24mn) and is scheduled to be completed in one year. Work involves raising and connecting embankments of the stabilization ponds, installing new flow control devices and improving the structure. The EU is partially financing repairs with a J$243mn grant and the National Water Commission (NWC) will provide J$35mn in counterpart funding, BNamericas reported previously.