7 December 2010 – A United Kingdom-based company, TALL Security Group, won the bid to print ballot papers for the region's self-determination vote, the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission (SSRC) said in Khartoum today.
Winning the bidding after it re-opened last week, Tall Group offered to produce and deliver materials to Khartoum, Juba and the eight foreign countries (Australia, Britain, United States, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya) where polling is scheduled to occur within 12 days of signing the contract, SSRC Director of Information George Maker Benjamin said at a media briefing.
The UK company bid to complete the task for $226,769, which was the lowest offer, the SSRC director added.
The company could start printing materials as soon as the contract was signed, Mr. Benjamin said, adding that distribution within Sudan remained the task of the SSRC.
Despite the short time available, Mr. Benjamin was hopeful that polling materials could be distributed to all locations by 9 January, the expected start of voting, with UNMIS support.
