Proposed construction of Malili Market Shed as per the Bill of Quantities, Makueni County (Ref 2675763-2026/2027)

What is being bought

Makueni County Government (Department of Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism) is tendering for the proposed construction of Malili Market Shed in Malili, Makueni County, as per the Bill of Quantities. The Bill of Quantities shows provisional quantities (for example 479 sq m of site clearance and 416 sq m of floor slab), and the actual work will be measured and adjusted. Works are a single lot, with electronic submission only via the IFMIS portal.

Key facts

Closing

Mon 16 Nov 2026, 10:00 am
Tenders must be submitted electronically via the IFMIS portal by this date and time. Late tenders are rejected. D1 p.30

Bid / tender security

Tender security of Ksh 100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Shillings), valid for 170 days from the date of tender opening. Forms listed in the evaluation criteria: cash, bank guarantee, insurance company guarantee (IRA-licensed), or guarantee from a CBK-licensed financial institution. ITT 21.2 lists bank guarantee, irrevocable letter of credit, banker's cheque or other form specified in the TDS. The forms are inconsistent (see conflicts). The tender-securing declaration is not required. Conflicting D1 p.7

Tender fee

Tender documents downloaded electronically from the official websites are free of charge. Preparation and submission costs are the tenderer's own cost. D1 p.7

Site visit

Pflichtfeld
Mandatory pre-tender site visit at Malili Market. A certificate signed by the Employer's Representative must be attached to the tender. Note that the general ITT says visits are encouraged, but the TDS makes this one mandatory. D1 p.28

Pre-bid meeting

Optional
Pre-tender conference shall not take place. D1 p.28

Reserved for

The tender is reserved for Makueni County contractors according to the cover page. The portal lists AGPO as the reserved group, while the TDS (ITT 35.2) says the reservation is N/A and the invitation says open to all qualified tenderers. Confirm the eligibility with the procuring entity before bidding. Conflicting D1 p.1

Contract value

Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated D1 p.1

Tender opening

Online opening of tenders at the same date and time as the submission deadline. The procuring entity opens tenders publicly, and the number of representatives who sign is ONE. D1 p.30

Tender validity

Tenders remain valid for 140 days from the date of opening of tenders (TDS ITT 20.1 also says 140 days). D1 p.7

Who can apply

• The invitation says tendering is open to all qualified and interested tenderers, but the cover page says the tender is reserved for Makueni County contractors and the portal lists AGPO. See conflicts and reserved_for. Conflicting D1 p.7
• Contractors must be registered with the National Construction Authority (NCA) before undertaking construction works in Kenya. Registration is not a condition for tender but is a condition of contract award and signature, so a selected tenderer may register before award. Standard rule D1 p.12
• A Kenyan tenderer must show it has met its tax obligations by providing a valid tax clearance or tax exemption certificate issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority. Standard rule D1 p.12
• A tenderer is treated as foreign if it is not registered in Kenya or is registered in Kenya with less than 51 percent Kenyan ownership. A joint venture (JV) may not subcontract more than 10 percent of the contract price to foreign firms, excluding provisional sums. Standard rule D1 p.12

Application checklist

Tick items off as you prepare. Your ticks stay on this device only.

Required from every bidder

• Attach a copy of a Certificate of Incorporation or business registration certificate, certified by an advocate or Commissioner of Oaths. D1 p.32
• Attach valid tax compliance certificates (copy). D1 p.32
• Attach a copy of a valid Single Business Permit for Makueni County. D1 p.33
• Attach a copy of a valid NCA 8 certificate and above for building works category, together with a valid annual practising licence matching the submitted NCA certificate. D1 p.33
• Provide a tender security of Ksh.100,000 valid for 170 days from tender opening, in one of the forms listed and attach a clear, legible copy. D1 p.33
• Dully filled, signed and stamped Form of Tender on the bidder's letterhead, with the amount indicated. D1 p.33
• Dully filled, signed and stamped Confidential Business Questionnaire. D1 p.33
• Attach a pre-tender site visit certificate signed by the Employer's Representative. D1 p.33
• Chronologically serialize all pages of the bid document submitted. D1 p.33
• Power of attorney or written authorization for the person signing the tender (ITT 22.3). D1 p.29

Experience, licences and financial capacity

Technical

• Provide key personnel (management and technical staff) with academic certificates and CVs. Scoring is 15 marks, including a Project Manager degree in civil, structural or architecture (3 marks), Site Agent diploma (2), Foreman NCA accredited or diploma (2), Quantity Surveyor diploma (2), and Electrical Engineer diploma (2) plus organisational structure (4). CVs must show the staff work for the company. D1 p.35
• Specific experience in building construction projects completed in the last five years is scored out of 10 marks. Zero completion certificates scores 0 marks; one scores 2; two scores 4; three scores 6; four scores 8; five or more scores 10. D1 p.35
• Pass mark is 56 marks out of the total evaluation score. D1 p.38
• Rates in the price schedule are analysed for consistency and reasonableness. Any front loading or major discrepancy in rates for common items leads to deduction of 50% of the marks scored. D1 p.38
• Makueni County will validate attached documents and may visit the winning bidder's physical location and plant and equipment during due diligence. D1 p.38
• Prices are fixed (not subject to price adjustment). D1 p.29
• Tenderers must fill in rates and prices for all items in the Bill of Quantities. Items without a rate are deemed covered by other rates and not paid separately. Standard rule D1 p.15
• Tender must be quoted in Kenya Shillings and include all taxes. D1 p.7
• No subcontracting is permitted beyond 0 percent of total contract amount. Tenderers planning to subcontract more than 10 percent of volume must name the activities and subcontractors in the Form of Tender. D1 p.30
• Procuring Entity does not intend to execute specific works through pre-selected subcontractors. D1 p.30

Financial

• Minimum average annual construction turnover, financial capability and other financial thresholds are in the evaluation criteria template with blank amounts. The actual figures are not stated in the material reviewed. Not stated D1 p.39
• Experience and sub-factors such as number of similar contracts, history of non-performance and litigation years are left blank in the template. Not stated D1 p.39

How and where to submit

• Tenders SHALL only be submitted electronically via the IFMIS portal (Government of Kenya e-sourcing portal). Manual submission is not allowed. D1 p.29
• Tenderers shall not submit tenders manually. D1 p.30
• Physical address listed for submission (Makueni County HQ, County Commissioners Building, 5th floor, Procurement Office Trade, P.O Box 78-90300 Makueni). This conflicts with the electronic-only instruction. Conflicting D1 p.8
• Questions in writing must reach the Procuring Entity not later than 11 November 2026 at 10.00 AM. D1 p.28
• Tender documents downloaded electronically are free. Procurement queries go to Procurement@makueni.go.ke. Bidders who download should send particulars to procurement@makueni.go.ke for clarifications and addenda. D1 p.7

Lots and categories

• Lot none: No lotting. The tender is a single contract. D1 p.28

Not covered in the documents we reviewed

• Contract completion period and contract duration
• Performance security amount and form
• Specific financial thresholds: minimum annual construction turnover, years and number of similar contracts, key equipment
• Number of copies required (ITT 22.1 TDS number not stated)
• Electronic submission procedures and packaging detail (TDS ITT 27.1 says N/A)
• Any addenda or changes (none supplied)
• Contract value or estimated budget
• Total BOQ amount and summary pages
• Forms of tender, confidential business questionnaire and site visit certificate templates
• Drawings, specifications and general/special conditions of contract
• Remaining pages of D1 (92 of 123 pages not reviewed) and D2 (10 of 13 pages not reviewed)

Terms explained

TDS

Tender Data Sheet: the tender-specific rules that override the general Instructions to Tenderers.

ITT

Instructions to Tenderers: the standard rules on how to prepare and submit a tender.

IFMIS portal

Government of Kenya e-sourcing system where tenders are submitted electronically.

AGPO

Access to Government Procurement Opportunities: reserved groups of youth, women and persons with disability, plus SMEs.

NCA

National Construction Authority, which registers contractors for construction work.

Tender security

Money or guarantee submitted with the tender to cover withdrawal or failure to sign the contract.

Responsive

A tender that meets all the tender requirements without material deviation, reservation or omission.

BOQ

Bill of Quantities: priced list of works items and quantities that tenderers must price in full.

JV

Joint Venture: two or more firms tendering together.

Negotiation No / Reference

The portal number 2675763-2026/2027 and tender number GMC/T/T/015/2026/2027 identify the same procurement.