Two Companies Bid to Build Long-Awaited Belmopan Tertiary Hospital

The long-awaited tertiary hospital in Belmopan is one step closer to construction. After years of planning, changes to the proposed location and delays in getting the project off ground, two companies have now submitted bids to construct the facility. The bids are expected to go through an evaluation process before a contractor is selected, bringing the project closer to the point where construction can actually begin. The hospital is being financed through a Saudi Fund for Development loan and is planned as a 150-bed tertiary and teaching facility. It is expected to provide referral services for patients from across the country, while also supporting the training of medical students at the University of Belize. Health Minister Kevin Bernard says the latest stage of the procurement process could finally bring the project to the ground.  With two bids now submitted for the construction, Bernard says government is hoping to move through the evaluation process and finally break ground before the end of the year.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness: “I can confirm that the bids were submitted. The bids, I think, the review committee for the construction, there were two shortlisted companies that the Saudis highlighted and these are Saudi companies. These are not local companies. Remember, the Saudi fund dictates how they will manage the project. And so there were two international companies that I understand that were shortlisted. And they are in the process I believe if not the Tuesday or yesterday the committee may have met. I did not get an update from Nurse Bell on that matter but I was told last week that the bids were being reviewed so that by the time that committee has finished its selection they are hoping by the end of this year, by November/December they can go into contract signing and start construction. The first step was that when the bid came out design concept and then after they approval of the design then they put out that for bid to construct and so that’s where the two short listed companies have been identified and those are what the committee will be reviewing and submitting their recommendations to the Saudis. So that is where we are and once that is finalized we are looking at the end of December to sign contract and get construction started.”

The project has been in the works since 2023, when government secured financing for the hospital. But progress has been slower than initially anticipated, including a decision to move the proposed site from University of Belize property to land purchased by government for approximately six-point-nine million dollars./