Wanted: Proposals to manage 4 existing hawker centres on a not-for-profit basis

SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency has called for proposals to manage four existing hawker centres on a not-for-profit basis. These centres are at Block 117 Aljunied Ave 2, Block 20 Ghim Moh Road, Block 207 New Upper Changi Road and Block 503 West Coast Drive.

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Here is the media statement from The National Environment Agency:

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has called for a Request for Information (RFI) exercise through GeBIZ to invite submission of proposals from interested parties for the management of four hawker centres that are under the Stall Ownership Scheme, namely Block 207 New Upper Changi Road, Block 117 Aljunied Ave 2, Block 20 Ghim Moh Road and Block 503 West Coast Drive. The leases of these centres will expire on May 31, 2014.

In 2012, the Hawker Centres Public Consultation Panel recommended that new hawker centres be managed on a not-for-profit basis by social enterprises or cooperatives. For this RFI, NEA welcomes proposals from interested parties or organisations that meet the requirements.

The selected party or parties will be appointed as master tenants. This would allow them to operate hawker centres using new models given their prior experience in food and beverage operations, as well as property and lease management. NEA believes that these innovations could widen the diversity of affordable food options and dining experiences, as well as employment opportunities for Singaporeans and PRs.

Depending on the level of interest in the exercise, NEA may consider extending this approach to the other hawker centres that are under the Stall Ownership Scheme in the future.