Finance Ministry Opens Construction Bid for Safe Home in Hulhumalé

The Ministry of Finance and Planning has opened invitations to bid for the construction of a new Domestic Violence and Gender Based Violence shelter in Hulhumalé.

In a Gazetted notice, the ministry said it is calling for sealed bids on behalf of the Ministry of Social and Family Development for the project, which is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Strengthening Gender Inclusive Initiatives Project.

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The procurement will follow ADB’s Open Competitive Bidding method using a single-stage, one-envelope procedure and is open to bidders from eligible countries, as outlined in the bidding documents. The process will be conducted in line with the Construction Industry Contractor’s Regulation issued by the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, as well as the Foreign Direct Investment Policy of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

According to the notice, eligible bidders must meet minimum qualification requirements, including an average annual construction turnover of at least MVR 50 million over the past three years. Bidders must also demonstrate experience within the last five years in at least one satisfactorily completed contract similar to the proposed works, with a participation value exceeding MVR 19 million. Similarity is defined as a construction involving ground floor plus one-level buildings or multi-storey structures.

The ministry stated that full eligibility and qualification criteria are detailed in the bidding documents. Interested bidders may obtain further information and inspect the documents through the National Tender Department at the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

Registration for the bidding process will be open from 18 December 2025 to 15 January 2026 during working hours. Bidders are required to pay a non-refundable registration fee of MVR 1,500 or USD 100 and submit registration details, including contact information and proof of payment.

A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for 29 December 2025 at 11:00am Maldives time. Requests for clarification must be submitted by 5 January 2026. The bidding documents will be available for download from the Ministry of Finance and Planning website from 18 December 2025.

Bids must be delivered to the ministry on or before 11:00am on 19 January 2026, along with the required bid security. Late submissions will not be accepted, and bids will be opened immediately after the deadline in the presence of bidders’ representatives who choose to attend.

On February 6,  President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced during his address at the opening of Parliament that the government had decided to establish domestic violence shelters in three regions of the Maldives to provide temporary protection for victims. He said the first shelter, to be built in Addu City, is expected to be announced in February and completed within a year. In March, the Ministry of Finance and Planning also opened bids for the construction of a domestic violence shelter in Addu City.

This shelter is to be developed in the 10,000 square feet of land the government purchased in Hulhumalé in April for MVR 31.5 million to establish a ‘Safe Home’ facility for victims of domestic violence. The acquisition, confirmed by the Civil Court, was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Ministry of Social and Family Development, and the Housing Development Corporation. In 2022, the Asian Development Bank approved a USD 7.51 million (approximately MVR 116 million) grant for the programme, designed to provide safe spaces and promote gender equality, though costs for individual shelters were not disclosed.