Govt seeking supermarkets, shops to supply groceries for COVID-19 public assistance

The Government of Guyana is seeking shops and supermarkets to supply canned and bottled food products, and dry and fresh ration for Phase Two of the COVID-19 public assistance voucher programme. The objective of the programme is to provide relief to vulnerable citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic through the supply of hampers and care items.
Through newspaper advertisements, the Government invited supermarkets and shops in all regions to partake. Interested suppliers are being asked to submit Expressions of Interest to supply bottled and canned food products, as well as dry and fresh ration at an estimated value between $25,000 and $32,000 monthly per voucher.
According to the ad, suppliers who are successful will have to ensure that their business has adequate space that is in compliance with the Health Ministry’s social distancing guidelines and the establishment of sanitation facilities.
Expression of Interest Forms and Selection Criteria can be uplifted from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in Georgetown or the office of the Regional Executive Officers between 09:00h and 15:00h from September 10-29, 2020. Expressions may also be requested via email from [email protected].
Interested persons or authorised representatives are advised to submit completed forms along with valid Business Registration or Certificate of Registration and recent National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Compliance Certificates to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Main and Urquhart Streets, Georgetown, or before 09:00h on Wednesday, September 30, 2020.
The documents must be placed in a sealed envelope and clearly marked “Expression of Interest to supply items under the COVID-19 Voucher Assistance Programme – Phase 2” and deposited into the Tender Box at NPTAB offices. Expression of Interest forms submitted via email will not be accepted. The CDC reserves the right to accept or reject any Expression of Interest.
Meanwhile, in May 2020, the then Government had also advertised for eligible shops and supermarkets to submit Expression of Interest for the supply of canned and bottled food products, and dry and fresh ration.
That initiative had focused on homes where one or more individuals experienced a loss in earnings as a result of the COVID pandemic, single-parent homes, elderly persons and those living with disabilities. In early July, it was announced that 12,000 applications for assistance were received. A majority of persons who applied for Government’s assistance hailed from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).
Most of the applicants’ primary need was food. At the time, however, it was unclear where the then APNU/AFC Government was sourcing funds for the programme since the country’s last national budget was passed since December 2018 and the post-elections dilemma and the limits placed on the Contingency Fund stymied the economy.
In its emergency budget presented on Wednesday, the PPP/C Government allocated $4.5 billion to cater for a $25,000 per household COVID-19 relief. Government said it is cognisant of the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on life in every single community. While some communities may not feel the impact as significantly as others, it said that the damage to local economies is real.
As such, Government has set aside $25,000 per household for COVID-19 relief. It is Government’s hope that this will help in some way to support families in ensuring that all Guyanese are able to put basic food items on the table.