The National Housing Trust has awarded Ashtrom Building Systems a $2.3 billion contract to build 419 houses in two years. The NHT contract is part of two that Astrom won. The tender includes development of 165 two bedroom townhouses and 192 two and three bedroom apartments at Twickenham Park Housing Development, St Catherine, according to the Jamaica Observer,. The other is for the construction of 10 two bedroom, 52 one bedroom and five studio units at Bush Park Housing Development, Clarendon.

Both projects begin this month, but the Unions Estate Phase 3 (Twickenham Park Phase 3) section ends October 2011 and the Bushy Park Phase 2 ends October 2010.

In Jamaica since 1969, Ashtrom Building Systems is of Israeli origins. View more of their construction projects: http://ashtromja.com

The National Contracts Commission recommended 35 contract awards for September 2009. Largest among these is one of three limited tender contracts, for US $3.8M approved for Executive Motors Ltd to procure 153 double cab pickups. Executive also won another tender for US$464,887 for 20 single cab pickups.

The NCC approved eleven select tenders and 20 as sole source. Approval by the NCC does not mean that the contractors have received their awards.

Other large contracts approved by the NCC include VDL Jonckheere Bus and Coach NV for € 69M to procure 200 new buses for the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region. Lasco Distributors won a tender for JM $529M to procure pharmaceuticals.