GREAT BAY--Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs has confirmed that no contracts have yet been awarded under the controversial 2026–2029 garbage collection tender, despite evaluation results identifying the highest-ranked bidders for St. Maarten's six collection parcels. The Minister also disclosed that a study commissioned from Grant Thornton recommended solid waste contracts lasting a minimum of seven to ten years, and that the current shorter contracting period was deliberately chosen because of anticipated changes to landfill management and pricing.
Responding to questions during Friday's continuation of the 2027 national budget debate, Gumbs outlined the reasons for canceling the initial tender, the changes introduced during the retendering process, the use of the Mercell electronic procurement platform, and the additional verification requirements that contractors must satisfy before receiving final awards.
He explained that the first tender was launched in December 2025, with 17 companies submitting bids by July 28, 2026. According to the Minister, none of the participating companies qualified for an award, prompting government to reopen the procurement process on August 17, 2026, covering the same six garbage collection parcels.
Why the Tender Rules Were Changed
One of the most consequential changes involved increasing the maximum number of parcels that could be awarded to a single company from one to two. Gumbs explained that the restriction in the original tender could prevent experienced contractors with sufficient equipment, personnel and operational capacity from servicing more than one area.
The revised arrangement, he said, was intended to give the evaluation committee greater flexibility while maintaining competition. Companies can now receive a maximum of two parcels, even if they submit bids for all six, provided they meet the applicable financial, technical and operational requirements.
The Minister stressed that each parcel is evaluated independently, meaning a company could rank first in several parcels without being entitled to receive all of them. He maintained that allowing a maximum of two parcels was intended to balance competition with service quality, continuity and operational efficiency.
The change has attracted scrutiny because it creates the possibility of two parcels being awarded to one company while reducing the number of companies ultimately receiving contracts.
No Final Awards, Equipment Verification Still Required
Gumbs reiterated that the names circulating publicly represent the outcome of individual parcel evaluations rather than a finalized list of contracted garbage collectors. He said two companies had been found eligible for two parcels each, but their ability to execute the work still had to be established through the remaining procedures.
These include an indemnification and allocation meeting, during which potential contractors must identify which parcels they can realistically manage, followed by verification of the equipment and resources necessary to fulfill their obligations. Contractors must sign an indemnification form and demonstrate access to the required trucks, machinery, personnel and other operational resources.
If a bidder cannot satisfy the requirements, the tender provides for reallocation procedures. Gumbs explained that these measures were introduced following problems with the 2021–2026 contracts, when some companies received awards without possessing all the equipment necessary to service their parcels.
The Minister also confirmed that a newly established company is not automatically excluded because it lacks a lengthy operating history. Such companies must nevertheless satisfy the same qualification requirements and demonstrate that they have, or can secure, the resources necessary to perform the work before a contract is finalized.
Grant Thornton Recommended Seven to Ten-Year Contracts
Responding to concerns about the relatively short duration of the current contracts, Gumbs disclosed that VROMI commissioned Grant Thornton to assess the solid waste sector following the failure of the previous tender exercise.
According to the Minister, the assessment concluded that garbage collection contracts should run for a minimum of seven to ten years to allow contractors sufficient time to develop institutional capacity and sustain the investments necessary to provide reliable service.
However, he explained that government deliberately selected a shorter period for the present tender because major changes to landfill management and the pricing structure are anticipated through the Trust Fund project to rehabilitate and close the landfill.
Gumbs indicated that the next tender would need to provide for a longer contracting period, consistent with those anticipated changes. He did not announce a finalized duration for the next contracts, although the consultancy's recommended range establishes the direction being considered.
The Minister also cautioned that government service contracts are intended to purchase public services, not finance the full investment requirements of private companies or facilitate the establishment of new businesses.
Mercell Introduced to Improve Transparency
Gumbs explained that another major change was the introduction of Mercell, the electronic procurement platform used for the retender. The original process relied on sealed envelopes and manual submissions, whereas the revised system allows bidders to register, obtain tender documents, ask questions and submit proposals electronically.
According to the Minister, Mercell centralizes communications, automatically records submission times and maintains an electronic audit trail. Evaluation documentation and bidder correspondence can also be managed within the platform, reducing reliance on separate emails, manual filing and physical submissions.
The system provides participating companies with confirmation of successful submissions and facilitates access to information about the procurement process. Gumbs presented the change as an effort to improve transparency, accountability and equal treatment of bidders.
However, electronic submission does not eliminate the need for the evaluation committee to assess eligibility, verify documentation and determine whether potential contractors satisfy the tender's requirements.
Minister Addresses Allegations and Bidder Complaints
The Minister also responded to allegations of possible irregularities in the garbage tender, saying that speculation must be separated from established facts. He confirmed that VROMI had received documentation and questions from bidders and that these matters were being reviewed.
Gumbs maintained that he would not validate allegations without supporting evidence, but acknowledged that concerns warrant proper examination through the appropriate channels. He also pointed to the introduction of Mercell as one of the measures intended to strengthen procurement transparency and reduce opportunities for irregularities.
Regarding companies unable to obtain tax or other government documents before submission deadlines, Gumbs acknowledged the difficulties involved but said tender conditions could not be changed for individual participants once the process was underway. He urged bidders experiencing administrative delays to raise them early so that any available assistance could be considered.
District Cleaning Tender Also Under Evaluation
Separately, Gumbs confirmed that bids for the district cleaning tender were submitted on October 9, 2026, and remained under evaluation. He said government intends to conduct another island-wide cleanup before the new district cleaning contracts begin, helping to address overgrown vegetation, roadside garbage and other maintenance concerns during the transition.
He also acknowledged questions about contractors being expected to provide more services for lower amounts. The Minister said companies must submit realistic proposals accounting for labor, fuel, equipment, maintenance and transportation, while government must monitor performance to ensure contractors deliver the agreed services.
Gumbs further explained that the expiration of previous roadside cleaning contracts created budgetary savings, part of which supported temporary cleaning activities. Remaining funds were redirected toward other budgetary shortages and urgent projects, including cemetery vaults and abandoned vehicle removal.
