SERHA Addresses Statement by JACDEN Regarding the Procurement of Janitorial and Portering Services at its Facilities

Kingston, Jamaica, February 7, 2025: The South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) wishes to address a recent statement issued to the media by JACDEN Enterprise Ltd.

JACDEN submitted a bid, along with another bidder, for janitorial and portering services for the Kingston Public/Victoria Jubilee Hospitals along with the Spanish Town Hospital. After a thorough assessment and evaluation by our Procurement Department, SERHA recommended another bidder for Kingston Public/Victoria Jubilee Hospitals and JACDEN for Spanish Town Hospital.

It is to be noted that SERHA’s optimization revealed that to recommend JACDEN, who was the lowest bidder, would cost SERHA an extra $300 million in comparison to the other bidder. This optimization is in keeping with the directive of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) to the Authority in its conduct of evaluation and assessment of public contracts of this nature.

This optimization analysis demonstrates that awarding contracts based solely on the lowest bidder does not guarantee the best value for money. At all times, SERHA is committed to ensuring that the best value for money is achieved, and this principle has been upheld throughout the evaluation process of our recommendation.

SERHA stands firmly behind its recommendation to the PPC and awaits its endorsement regarding this matter. As a government authority, we are committed to the principles of good governance, transparency and accountability. SERHA welcomes any investigation into its procurement processes by the relevant government agencies. We are confident that due diligence was exercised in all aspects of the evaluation process.

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