Oman seeks PPP based offers for drug rehab centre

Building on its portfolio of projects offered up for investment on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis, Oman’s Ministry of Finance have invited qualified local and international companies to submit Expressions of Interest (EoI) for a contract to finance and operate a modern drug rehabilitation centre in the port city of Suhar.

It’s the latest in a growing pipeline of projects planned for procurement by the Omani government under its recently promulgated PPP Law. Projects and initiatives lined up for PPP-based procurement span the following sectors: Healthcare, Education, Research and Development, Environment, Transport, Ports, Renewable Energy, Office Accommodation and Information communication and Technology.

On Wednesday, the Ministry announced that it is seeking a qualified company to operate and manage the Al Taafi Suhar Centre, which has been set up to provide advanced levels of treatment and rehabilitative care to recovering drug addicts. In addition to financing and provisioning the facility, the successful bidder will also be required to expand the centre at the appropriate time.

PPP-based operation of the Al Taafi Suhar Centre is one of several projects planned for procurement by the Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Ministry of Health. It includes plans for the establishment of a string of dialysis service centres around the country, a Central Laboratory, and a number of small hospitals and health centres.

In the Education sector, the Ministry of Finance is currently evaluating proposals received from local and international developers for the procurement of 42 schools via the PPP route. The client is the Ministry of Education which, for the first time, has invited the private sector to undertake the design, finance, construction and maintenance of a package of 42 schools under the PPP model.

Oman’s PPP law, which came into force on July 1, 2019, enables government entities to enter into arrangements with the private sector in relation to infrastructure and public utility projects.

Another project being procured by the Ministry of Finance under the PPP model concerns the development, management, operation and maintenance of the Liwa Fishery Harbour Project on the North Al Batinah coast. The competitive procurement process is being pursued in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources.