J$670m meal plan
Published:Sunday | November 27, 2011 | 12:00 AM
HEART Trust/NTA will be investing close to J$670 million in the hiring of concessionaires to feed students at nine of its training centres.
The largest of the contracts is for J$179.6 million to B&E Caterers, which is expected to provide service at HEART's Ebony Park Academy in Clarendon. B&E Caterers is also to be awarded a J$78 million contract for the Portmore Academy.
Meantime, Wedderbees has been selected for two concessions valued at a combined J$156 million, and Fay Dawkins another two valued at J$145 million.
Single awards will also go to Catalena Wynter, Millicent Drummond and Golden Age Home.
The contracts have passed the National Contracts Commission's scrutiny, but will need Cabinet approval before award to the concessionaires.
HEART Trust/NTA has indicated that the deals with meal providers would feed 2,500 residential and day trainees over the 39-month contract period.
The concessionaire contracts will be assigned as follows:
Ebony Park Academy in Clarendon, J$179.6 million;
Stony Hill HEART Academy in St Andrew for J$120.88 million;
Runaway Bay Academy in St Ann, J$100.95 million;
Portmore Academy in St Catherine, $78.38 million;
Port Maria Vocational Training Centre in St Mary, J$44.03 million;
Newport Vocational Training Centre in St Elizabeth for J$42.03 million;
Falmouth Vocational Training Centre in Trelawny, J$38.61 million;
Jamaica German Automotive School in St Andrew, J$35.39 million; and
College of Beauty Service, formerly School of Cosmetology, in St Andrew, J$26.03 million.
HEART Trust/NTA said in written responses to Sunday Business queries that arrangements would not apply to staff meals.
The HEART programme provides meals for all level-one trainees as well as all those who live on residential campuses in Runaway Bay, Stony Hill and Ebony Park. Provision is also made for level-two trainees who are accessing training at HEART for the first time.
"Many of our trainees are unable to afford well- rounded meals and in some instances the meals provided by the HEART Trust/NTA may be the only cooked meal that they receive," said the agency.
The total contract is valued at J$666.036 million, but the training agency said final payments will be made to suppliers based on verified number of meals consumed.
HEART Trust/NTA trains approximately 80,000 persons annually. Last year, 86,402 persons accessed the programmes.