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Chinese firm Haier Electrical wins OLPF contract. Written by Kwesi Isles
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:43

Chinese firm Haier Electrical Appliances Limited has won a US$7.5M contract to supply some 27,000 netbooks under the Guyana government’s ambitious One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative.

This was revealed by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon on Wednesday at his post-Cabinet media briefing which was also attended by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and OLPF Project Manager Sesh Sukhdeo.

The contract had been re-tendered after OLPF Office said that none of the three bids in the first round were fully compliant with render requirements. Eleven bids were received in the second from which three who were “substantially responsive” were selected Dr Singh stated.

He added that they were subjected to detailed scrutiny and awarded points on criteria met and additional information. The three criteria were technical specifications, inspections and tests and price.

“The additional information that has been presented by Haier Electrical Appliances Limited is that the bid will also provide 2 percent additional buffer of laptops. One of the criteria within the tender process was to make sure that we had a seven-day for netbooks on the warranty, 2 percent additional stock in spares,” Sukhdeo said.

He added that there is also an 18-month warranty period on the units and the cost of a logo being embossed on the machines at US$1 each.

The government is looking to provide some 90,000 netbooks to poor families over a two-year period with GUY$1.8B budgeted for the OLPF this year.

The verification of applications for the netbooks and training exercises are currently underway as the government looks to start putting the machines in the hands of families in October.

Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir had told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) earlier this month that at least 17,000 remaining households were to be verified.

Some 13,000 persons applied as single parents and 3,000 as disabled persons or households with disabled persons.

He said that of the 45,000 applicants, 27,000 will be receiving laptops in the first phase after verification and training are completed.

Nadir, who has cabinet responsibility for the OLPF, explained that the verification process includes the cross-referencing of applicants with existing databases on single-parents, disabled, low-income households and students who received government subsidies to sit CXC exams.

The Labour Minister rejected suggestions in certain quarters that the OLPF is a campaign tool for general and regional elections constitutionally due by December 28.

“This is not an election gimmick. This is about making a knowledge society. This is not about election because we would have given all 90,000 laptops and we would have just handed them out like if it is Christmas in October,” he said.

Nadir said the idea of creating a knowledge-based society is several years old, dating back to when Guyana had applied for a US$18 million loan from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB). At the time, the majority American-owned Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) had taken steps to successfully block the financing on the grounds that the Information Communications Technology (ICT) project would have infringed upon its monopoly rights on national and international data transmission.

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quote:
Originally posted by Tola:
Chinese firm Haier Electrical wins OLPF contract. Written by Kwesi Isles
Wednesday, 31 August 2011 13:43

Chinese firm Haier Electrical Appliances Limited has won a US$7.5M contract to supply some 27,000 netbooks under the Guyana government’s ambitious One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative.

This was revealed by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon on Wednesday at his post-Cabinet media briefing which was also attended by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and OLPF Project Manager Sesh Sukhdeo.

The contract had been re-tendered after OLPF Office said that none of the three bids in the first round were fully compliant with render requirements. Eleven bids were received in the second from which three who were “substantially responsive” were selected Dr Singh stated.

He added that they were subjected to detailed scrutiny and awarded points on criteria met and additional information. The three criteria were technical specifications, inspections and tests and price.

“The additional information that has been presented by Haier Electrical Appliances Limited is that the bid will also provide 2 percent additional buffer of laptops. One of the criteria within the tender process was to make sure that we had a seven-day for netbooks on the warranty, 2 percent additional stock in spares,” Sukhdeo said.

He added that there is also an 18-month warranty period on the units and the cost of a logo being embossed on the machines at US$1 each.

The government is looking to provide some 90,000 netbooks to poor families over a two-year period with GUY$1.8B budgeted for the OLPF this year.

The verification of applications for the netbooks and training exercises are currently underway as the government looks to start putting the machines in the hands of families in October.

Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir had told Demerara Waves Online News (www.demwaves.com) earlier this month that at least 17,000 remaining households were to be verified.

Some 13,000 persons applied as single parents and 3,000 as disabled persons or households with disabled persons.

He said that of the 45,000 applicants, 27,000 will be receiving laptops in the first phase after verification and training are completed.

Nadir, who has cabinet responsibility for the OLPF, explained that the verification process includes the cross-referencing of applicants with existing databases on single-parents, disabled, low-income households and students who received government subsidies to sit CXC exams.

The Labour Minister rejected suggestions in certain quarters that the OLPF is a campaign tool for general and regional elections constitutionally due by December 28.

“This is not an election gimmick. This is about making a knowledge society. This is not about election because we would have given all 90,000 laptops and we would have just handed them out like if it is Christmas in October,” he said.

Nadir said the idea of creating a knowledge-based society is several years old, dating back to when Guyana had applied for a US$18 million loan from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB). At the time, the majority American-owned Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) had taken steps to successfully block the financing on the grounds that the Information Communications Technology (ICT) project would have infringed upon its monopoly rights on national and international data transmission.



did we know that the deal maker in this deal is the Chinese B boys in the B boy cabal that surrounds the Kabaka?
FM
The AFC’s alternative plan to the OLPF

The AFC would like to reiterate its position that the PPP’s insistence on spending 6 billion dollars on 90,000 laptops - under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative - is not the best approach to “preparing our people for a brighter future”. We call on the Government, with immediate effect, to shelve this waste of taxpayer monies and enter into a national discussion to chart the best way forward. Towards this, the AFC submits its alternative plan.

In summary, the AFC plan will hit two birds with one stone. We will tie the computerisation of Government agencies throughout the length and breadth of Guyana to the establishment of Telecentres. Computers and digital technology can be accessed at Telecentres, and while there are various models, sustainability remains an issue. Tying Government functions to the Telecentres will help guarantee sustainability in Guyana. The AFC’s plan will utilise existing RDC and NDC offices, schools, community centres and churches for the establishment of Telecentres.

Desktop computers are cheaper than their laptop equivalents and can be configured to serve thin clients, which consist of a keyboard and screen that are plugged into a simplified computer. Up to 30 of these thin clients, costing US$150 or less, can then be connected to a single desktop computer.

Further, laptop parts can cost up to 500% more than the equivalent desktop parts and, parts specific to a particular model such as keyboards and screens, go out of production much quicker than for desktops. Therefore, under the AFC plan desktops along with thin clients will be used primarily. This way it will cost at most, half as much per computer. In fact, it will be the general policy of an AFC Government not to import these computers. We will order from local manufacturers instead, thereby creating thousands of jobs, with most going to our young people.

The AFC plan being some 3 billion dollars cheaper will also allow for the purchase of printers, scanners, etc, which will create business opportunities such as designing and producing invitations, funeral programmes, advertisements, business cards, brochures, etc. This would be in addition to Government work such as the computerisation of records and data entry, going to the people in the community. Employment will also be available to mothers who can work part time as trainers. Further, Telecentres will be equipped with power protection equipment, which is a major short-sight of the PPP’s OLPF since laptops can be rendered irreparable from electrical damage.

We do take into consideration however, that where the population density is low it is better to distribute laptops, along with printers and power protection equipment. This embodies the AFC’s approach to development in Guyana. We prefer a portfolio approach whereby we employ an optimal mix of solutions, rather than the silver bullet approach of the PPP, which relies on a single solution.

Under the PPP’s OLPF other than filling the pockets of suppliers, few additional benefits can be realised. Further, it will saddle those who can least afford it with the burden of having to buy power protection equipment, printers, scanners, flash drives, laptop batteries when they die, not to mention the high cost of repairs. Whenever a laptop is stolen too, these people would be the worst affected by the burden of repaying for the laptop.

Given the constant cries of our young people for jobs and the need to get the most value for our money, we consider the PPP’s OLPF as overly expensive and ultimately wasteful in the long run. Under the AFC plan, the opportunities and employment created will allow persons to not only buy their own laptops, but will ensure they are equipped with the requisite skills to succeed. It is only through our young people that Guyana’s potential can be realised. The AFC understands that.

Source
FM
Well you should know. You sold your SOUL to The Kabaka for one jill. You deceived an entire Nation, you are indeed SHAMELESS. KFC is right to have you as their Senior Member. They deserve you.
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Originally posted by Sase Singh:
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Originally posted by Sase Singh:
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Originally posted by Sase Singh:
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Originally posted by asj:


= EQUALS TO



+


Nehru

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