Founder and chairman of Dell computers Michael Dell. - Reuters

Dell World Trade Corporation (Dell) and Illuminat Jamaica have emerged as preferred bidders for the building out of a broadband wide area network (WAN) and the provision of IT equipment to the much-touted e-learning project to bring universal access to Jamaican schools.

The contracts together totalled close to US$28.2 million ($1.86 billion).

The National Contracts Commission (NCC) endorsed the three contracts in August which will have Dell build out the network that should connect 150 high schools across the country and provide computer equipment, under two contracts at a cost of US$25.9 million ($1.7 billion).

Illuminat would provide audio visual and multimedia equipment for classrooms at a cost of US$2.3 million ($152 million).

According to Avrill Crawford, chief executive of the project oversight body e-learning Jamaica Company, the entity was currently in discussions with the contractors over the terms of the contract, but had set no timeframe for the start of the project.

"We are now in negotiations with the contractors," Crawford told Sunday Business on Wednesday, adding that the terms of the contract had to be established before final signing off, at which time a "performance security sum would have to be put up by the contractor."

The e-learning project will provide universal broadband internet service to schools and libraries islandwide within a three year period.

The service is to be rolled out in phases over the three years, with 20 schools being targeted in the first year, 60 in year two, while another 70 schools are to come on stream in the third year.

PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY

According to the project feasibility study, published last April, the total project was expected to cost US$59.5 million ($3.93 billion) of which US$24 million ($1.58 billion) was to be spent on equipment and IT infrastructure.

The next largest chunk of funds was to be spent on the development of instructional and other digital materials, estimated to cost US$12.3 million, followed by teacher training costs of US$5.3 million.

The project would be funded by the universal access levy imposed June last year on overseas telecoms terminating calls in Jamaica - US$0.02 per minute for terminating on mobile networks and US$0.03 per minute on fixed line phones.

Between June 1, 2005 and April 21, 2006, Jamaica collected a billion dollars and had $288 million in receivables from the levy.

A contract valued at US$756,111 ($50 million) was also endorsed in August for the supply of school furniture by EHC Industries Limited to support the e-learning project.

camilo.thame@gleanerjm.com