Security for state institutions worth €2.5 million: Security guards sought for more than 40 facilities

The Administration for State Property has announced a public tender worth €2.5 million, including VAT, for the provision of security services at state institutions in several Montenegrin cities.

According to the tender documentation published on the Montenegrin Electronic Public Procurement Portal, security guards will be responsible for protecting more than 40 facilities over a period of 11 months. The facilities house courts, ministries, administrations, agencies and other state institutions.

Round-the-clock security

Most of the positions involve providing security at facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while some positions primarily require eight-hour shifts during the working week.

The institutions seeking security guards include the Constitutional Court of Montenegro, the Commercial Court, the Basic Court in Podgorica, the Misdemeanours Court, the Administrative Court, the General Secretariat of the Government, the State Election Commission, the Agency for Personal Data Protection and Free Access to Information, the Human Resources Administration, the Labour Fund, the Restitution Fund, as well as several organizational units of the Tax Administration and Customs Administration.

Security guards will also be deployed at facilities housing the ministries responsible for energy, transport, maritime affairs, health, public administration, economic development, agriculture, labour, education, tourism, culture and media, the diaspora, ecology, social welfare, and regional and investment development.

The tender also provides for the protection of the former Russian Legation building in Cetinje, as well as the Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA) in Danilovgrad.

Enhanced security measures

Standard physical security is required for most institutions, while enhanced security measures have been prescribed for certain facilities. Security guards assigned to the Tax Administration’s Operations Sector for Inspection Supervision, the Customs Administration and certain facilities of the Institute of Metrology will be required to carry pistols with ammunition. They will also have telescopic batons, handcuffs, stun flashlights and pepper spray at their disposal.

As for the Customs Administration, the tender documentation states that particular attention will be paid to the premises of the Anti-Smuggling Unit, the vehicle and goods detention area, rooms where firearms and ammunition are stored, as well as the Customs Information System Sector.

Enhanced security measures are also planned for the Institute of Metrology, where security guards will protect nine accredited laboratories, including those dealing with ionizing radiation, time and frequency. Armed security guards will also be deployed at the Laboratory for Testing Precious Metal Objects.

One of the more demanding assignments concerns a parking area in Masline used by the State Property Administration’s Seized Assets Sector. Four security posts are planned at that location, three of which will operate continuously, 24 hours a day, while the fourth will be active from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The tender also covers the security of underground garages, parking areas, reception areas and office buildings housing a large number of state authorities. Among other facilities, security guards will protect buildings where the Ministry of Finance, the Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, the National Office for Combating Human Trafficking, the Protector of Property and Legal Interests, and the Alimony Fund are based.

Female representation will also be evaluated

Only economic operators that, among other requirements, have not been convicted by a final court ruling, are not part of a criminal association or organization, have not given or received bribes, evaded taxes and social contributions, or participated in money laundering or human trafficking will be eligible to participate in the public procurement procedure.

In addition to the price and the guards’ experience, the Administration for State Property will also assess the representation of women among the workers engaged for the contract, the company’s employees, and within the ownership structure of companies competing for the €2.5 million contract.

Bids must be submitted by September 18, when they will also be opened.