Moldovan education ministry signs contract on purchasing of 10,000 laptops

Chisinau, 28 October /MOLDPRES/ - The Education, Culture and Research Ministry (MECC) and a winner company on 26 October signed a contract on the procurement of 10,000 laptops, within the Education Reform in Moldova Project, backed by the World Bank. Under the document, the laptops, worth 291.42 dollars per unit, are to be supplied on a period of 120 days; they will be endowed with a licenced operation system and will be meant for teachers and pupils distance learning.     

„Given that a sum of 3,500,000 dollars was allocated for this acquisition and the supply presented was worth 2,914,200 dollars, MECC was initially set to increase the quantity of units bought by 15 per cent (this represents the largest possible quantity, in line with the tender documents), so that the number of laptops procured from the sum envisaged be of 11,500. Nevertheless, in the COVID-19 pandemic situation, which triggered a deficit of laptops and pieces for their manufacture all over the world, both the winner company and the producers could not ensure the supply of the additional quantity of demanded by the ministry,’’ MECC sources said.       

As a result, 585,800 dollars saved in this procedure will be used on the same purposes, within a new procurement tender. In this respect, the Education, Culture and Research Ministry has already made an approach to the Finance Ministry for the earmarking of another 1.8 million dollars within the project, also for the purchasing of laptops necessary for the distance learning.    

Three companies participated in the acquisition of laptops through the Education Reforms in Moldova Project, in cooperation with the World Bank and based on the procurement procedures established by it; one company was turned down, on grounds that it presented the bid by exceeding the deadline. After the two valid bids had been considered, the company which submitted a financial proposal lower by 635,000 dollars than the other bidder was nominated as winner.

The Education Reforms in Moldova Project is a specific investment loan provided by the World Bank, implemented on the period April 2013 – April 2022, which back Moldova’s government through financing activities which will strengthen the education quality and will lead to a more efficient education sector.    

Photo: MECC