Namibia Extends Bid Deadline for Critical ICT Upgrade at National Botanical Research Institute

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has extended the bid submission deadline to April 27, 2026, for the “Upgrading of the ICT Network Infrastructure at the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI)” — a project aimed at modernizing digital systems vital to Namibia’s botanical research and conservation efforts.

The extension follows the discovery of additional scope not initially included in the tender, allowing bidders more time to prepare responsive proposals. A non-compulsory site meeting will also be scheduled to give contractors a firsthand look at the facility, located in Windhoek. Bidders are urged to collect updated documents and addendums from the Ministry’s Procurement Management Unit or download them from www.meft.gov.na to avoid disqualification.

This upgrade aligns with Namibia’s broader push to strengthen its ICT infrastructure — already among the best in Africa — and supports NBRI’s mission to digitize and disseminate data on Namibia’s 4,196 indigenous plant taxa through its Bio-Informatics section and National Herbarium (WIND). The project also reflects national priorities to accelerate telecom rollout and treat digital infrastructure as essential for economic and scientific development.