Business opportunities
The Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI) has now been released as of 26 November 2019 on AusTender.
Industry briefing
An industry briefing will be held Thursday, 5 December 2019, at 255 London Circuit Canberra 2601.
23 October 2019
We are currently planning the Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP). SIIP will improve the availability and condition of climate resilient, inclusive and accessible infrastructure in order to improve access to services and contribute to broad-based, inclusive and sustainable economic growth for the people of Solomon Islands.
With an anticipated start date in the third quarter of 2020 and a budget of $250 million over ten years, SIIP will be a part of Australia’s Foreign Policy White Paper commitment to Step-up engagement with the Pacific.
DFAT anticipates undertaking a two-step procurement process for an implementing partner with the first step being advertised later in 2019 on AusTender.
The procurement will be a collaborative approach to leverage the experience and expertise of interested stakeholders and organisations. This will likely include a collaborative co-design workshop with key stakeholders including industry. Further details on this process and the proposed workshop will be provided in the first step (Request for Expressions of Interest).
Background
Australia’s investment in economic infrastructure in Solomon Islands is key to achievement of our Foreign Policy White Paper goals. The White Paper stated that Australia would work with Solomon Islands Government to improve economic growth and governance to support stability in a post RAMSI environment, and noted the ‘massive and wide-ranging’ infrastructure needs of our region. Separate analysis has identified that poor infrastructure is a key constraint on the sectors that are most likely to drive economic growth: tourism, agriculture, fisheries and mining.
As part of the Pacific Step-up, in December 2018 the Australian Government announced the $2 billion Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), and during Prime Minister Morrison’s June 2019 visit to Solomon Islands, he announced a new 10-year $250m bilateral infrastructure program (SIIP) https://www.pm.gov.au/media/joint-statement.
SIIP will focus on improving economic infrastructure such as transport (road, sea and air) and ICT networks, contribute to tourism development and improve rural access to urban markets; and upgrade service delivery infrastructure, including improvements to water, sanitation and electricity access.
SIIP will seek to increase the availability, condition and accessibility of core economic infrastructure. It will maximise resources mobilised for economic infrastructure development, including from the private sector, MDBs, and potentially the AIFFP. It will enhance the capacity of relevant SIG ministries to manage and maintain a life cycle approach (planning, delivery and management) to infrastructure. It will also improve the integration of climate and disaster resilience and gender equity and social inclusion (GESI) principles to the infrastructure life cycle.
SIIP will be guided by a number of key principles, including: Solomon Islands Government and Australian Government policy alignment, inclusivity (gender, disability and geographical spread); resiliency (climate and disaster resiliency), quality and safety and local content.
Innovative solutions will be sought from industry to embed and realise these principles.
With our long-term investment in economic infrastructure including roads and bridges and road maintenance through the National Transport Fund, the Coral Sea Cable, and Tina River Hydropower project, as well as our governance and public sector reform programs, Australia is well-placed to make an informed and effective contribution to Solomon Islands’ inclusive economic growth. Supporting Solomon Islands’ progress on gender equity and social inclusivity and climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing connectivity, will also bolster human development and stability.
Note
This information is provided for planning purposes only and it does not represent solicitation or constitute a request for proposal, nor is it a commitment to purchase or tender for any described services. The scale, scope and focus of any proposed program may change at any time and is subject to formal approval by the Australian and Solomon Island Governments before any procurement process will commence. Should a procurement be approved, it is expected to commence later in the 2019 calendar year. This information is subject to delays, revision or cancellations.