Design and build works to partition the Graduation Square - Meru University of Science and Technology

What is being bought

Design and build (turnkey) works for the proposed partitioning of the Graduation Square at Meru University of Science and Technology, Main Campus, Nchiru, along Meru-Maua Road, Meru. Quantities and scope details are in Sections V and VI, which were not reviewed.

Key facts

Closing

Fri 16 Oct 2026, 12:00 pm
Tenders must be delivered to the address on or before this date and time. Late tenders are rejected. Portal closing date and time matches the tender document. D1 p.7

Bid / tender security

Tender security of Kshs 200,000 must accompany the tender, in the form of a bank guarantee from a reputable bank or financial institution approved by the Central Bank of Kenya, or a tender security from an insurance company recognised by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA). Tender security is a demand guarantee. Validity: 154 days from tender opening per the TDS, but the evaluation tool says 154 working days. See conflicts. A standard template clause requires validity 30 days beyond the tender validity period. Conflicting D1 p.29

Tender fee

A complete set of tender documents may be purchased for KES 1,000 non-refundable, in cash or banker's cheque, payable at the procuring entity address. Documents downloaded electronically are free of charge. D1 p.7

Site visit

Optional
Site visit is optional but encouraged, at the tenderer's own risk and expense. No date or time for a site visit is stated in the reviewed pages. D1 p.12

Pre-bid meeting

Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated D1 p.14

Reserved for

Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated P

Contract value

Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated P

Tender opening

Tenders are opened publicly immediately after the deadline, in the presence of tenderers' representatives who choose to attend, at Main Campus, Nchiru, along Meru-Maua Road, P.O. Box 972-60200, Meru. Financial envelopes remain sealed until later. D1 p.29

Tender validity

Tenders remain valid for 119 days from the date of tender opening. The validity period starts from the submission deadline date, which is the same date as opening. D1 p.29

Who can apply

• Open competitive tender open to all qualified and interested tenderers, using a standardized tender document. D1 p.7
• Tenderers may be individuals or firms, including joint ventures (JV). A JV must submit a copy of its Joint Venture Agreement, or a signed letter of intent to execute one, with the tender. D1 p.13
• A foreign tenderer must source at least 40% of its contract inputs (supplies, subcontracts and labour) from national suppliers and contractors, and must provide documentary evidence of this in its tender. Foreign tenderers not meeting this are automatically disqualified. D1 p.11
• State-owned enterprises or institutions may compete only if accredited by PPRA as a legal public entity that is financially autonomous and operates under commercial law. D1 p.11

Application checklist

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

Required from every bidder

• Certificate of Incorporation or Registration (commissioned), copies of directors' National Identity Cards, and CR12 or CR13 issued within six months of the tender opening date. D1 p.31
• Beneficial ownership disclosure form, duly filled, signed and stamped. D1 p.32
• Valid National Construction Authority (NCA) Registration Certificate in Building Works Category NCA 6 and above, together with current Annual Practicing License. See conflict on timing. Conflicting D1 p.32
• Tender security of Kes. 200,000 in the prescribed form (see bid_security item). D1 p.32
• Commissioned Power of Attorney authorizing the officer committing the bidder to this tender, bearing the attorney's specimen signature, with a declaration by the attorney attached. Commissioner for Oaths certification must be accompanied by the commissioner's current practicing license. D1 p.32
• Valid Tax Compliance Certificate and PIN Certificate. The Tax Compliance Certificate requirement applies to Kenyan firms. D1 p.32
• Letter of authority on the bidder's letterhead, signed and stamped by the authorized representative, issued within the tender advertisement period, addressed to the Vice Chancellor, allowing the university to make inquiries of the bidder's banks, previous or existing clients and other matters about this tender. D1 p.32
• Valid Single Business Permit. D1 p.32
• Tendering forms duly completed, signed and stamped by the authorized person. D1 p.32
• Form of Tender, Tender Security or Tender-Securing Declaration, and written authorization of the signatory, in the sealed envelopes described under submission. D1 p.14

Experience, licences and financial capacity

Technical

• Technical proposal (design proposals, methodology, programme and other forms in Section IV) is scored out of 100. Minimum score 70 is required to pass technical evaluation. Criteria include design methodology (15), construction methodology (10), project management structure (25), and Kenyan citizen participation among key experts (5). D1 p.33
• Technical proposal must be submitted in separate envelopes from the financial proposal and must be signed by a person with power of attorney, without material deviation, reservation or omission, and must be complete with all forms and documentary evidence. D1 p.32

Financial

• Certified audited accounts for the last three years (2023, 2024 and 2025), signed by the auditor preparing them and the company directors, accompanied by copies of annual practicing licences for the auditors and audit firms. D1 p.32
• Financial proposal (price) must be submitted in a sealed envelope. Tenders that do not submit a financial offer are rejected at preliminary examination. Average annual construction turnover threshold is in Section III sub-factor 3.2, which was not reviewed. Not stated D1 p.31

How and where to submit

• Physical, hard-copy sealed tender delivered to the Vice Chancellor, Meru University of Science and Technology, Main Campus, Nchiru, along Meru-Maua Road, P.O. Box 972-60200, Meru. Tender box is at the entrance/ground floor of Administration Block 2. D1 p.29
• Electronic tenders will not be permitted. Only physical hard-copy tenders are accepted. D1 p.7
• One original marked ORIGINAL, plus 1 copy marked COPY (ITT 22.1). Bids must be in one single sealed envelope bearing the tender name and reference number and a warning DO NOT OPEN BEFORE the opening time and date, with inner envelopes marked ORIGINAL and COPIES for technical proposal and a separate ORIGINAL envelope for the Form of Tender. D1 p.29
• Tender documents must be serialized (all pages numbered in sequence) before submission. D1 p.7
• Tender must be in English and priced in Kenya Shillings, including all taxes. D1 p.7
• Tender must be signed in indelible ink by a person duly authorized, with name and position typed below the signature. Each original and copy must be signed. D1 p.18

Not covered in the documents we reviewed

• Section II TDS for pre-tender conference or site visit date and time, and whether minutes are published
• Section III sub-factor 3.2 average annual construction turnover, and any other financial thresholds
• Section III details beyond the first technical sub-criteria and the full financial evaluation method
• Whether the TDS reserves the tender for youth, women, persons with disabilities or AGPO groups
• Section V Specifications, Section VI Drawings and Bills of Quantities or schedule of requirements
• Performance security amount and form (Section IX forms)
• Contract value or estimated cost
• Whether lots apply
• Full Section IV tendering forms (Form of Tender, Tender-Securing Declaration) and the required number of technical forms
• Full list of the Power of Attorney and insurance tender security requirements
• Any addenda after the original tender document

Terms explained

TDS (Tender Data Sheet)

The part of the tender document (here, the Appendix to Instructions to Tenderers) that sets the specific values for this tender, such as validity, security amount, copies and deadlines.

Tender security

A guarantee (bank guarantee, insurer guarantee or cash) submitted with the tender to show the bidder is serious. It can be forfeited if the bidder withdraws or fails to sign the contract.

Tender-Securing Declaration

A signed declaration, on the prescribed form, that can be used instead of a tender security where the tender documents allow it. If executed, the bidder may be recommended for debarment.

Responsive / non-responsive

A tender is responsive if it meets all the mandatory requirements in the tender documents. A non-responsive tender is rejected without further evaluation.

JV (Joint Venture)

Two or more firms bidding together under a joint venture agreement. Each member is bound by the bid, and the JV must meet the rules for joint bidding.

AGPO

Affirmative Action Procurement Opportunities for youth, women and persons with disabilities. Not stated as applicable in the reviewed pages.

PPRA

Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, Kenya's procurement regulator. It maintains the debarment list.

NCA

National Construction Authority, which registers contractors for construction works in Kenya. The NCA category required here is NCA 6 and above for building works.

CR12 / CR13

Kenyan company registry returns showing a company's directors and shareholders (CR12) and related registry records. Must be issued within six months of tender opening here.

Power of Attorney

A commissioned legal document giving a named person the authority to sign and commit the bidder to this tender, with the attorney's specimen signature.

Serialize

Number all pages of the tender documents in sequence so that the pages can be checked for completeness.

Lowest Evaluated Tender

The responsive tender with the lowest evaluated price, after passing the qualification criteria and technical threshold.