Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546037
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 AUGUST 2026 NEWS Epic offers free water across all stores as Malta faces intense summer heatwaves AS Malta experiences some of its most intense heatwaves this summer, Epic Malta is stepping up to support the community by offering free bottled water to customers across all its stores nation- wide. Access to potable water isn't always convenient when out and about, especially during periods of extreme heat. With this initiative, Epic Malta aims to make staying hydrated easier for customers, whether they're commuting, running errands, or simply out enjoy- ing the summer. A spokesperson for Epic said the initiative reflects the company's commitment to looking out for the communi- ty, noting that small, practical gestures like this can make a real difference when temper- atures climb to extreme lev- els. IG/FB It's hot out there, Malta. So we're giving away free water to customers at every Epic store. Stop by and stay hy- drated. LinkedIn As Malta faces one of its most intense summers on record, Epic is offering free drinking water bottles to cus- tomers across all store loca- tions. It's a small gesture, but one aimed at making a real difference for our community during these extreme tem- peratures. THIS IS A PAID COLLABORATION Sir Temi Zammit Hospital tender deadline pushed to October THE €1.4 billion tender dead- line for the geriatric hospital Sir Temi Zammit was pushed to October from July after health authorities were overwhelmed with requests for clar-ifications. Originally, bids had to be sub- mitted by 15 July and were to be opened on the same day. The new deadline for submis- sion of tenders is now set for 27 October at 9:30am with bids being opened 30 minutes later. "The extension was made as a procedural adjustment to facilitate the issuance of clari- fications while ensuring com- pliance with the applicable procurement regula-tions," a spokesperson for the Finance Ministry told MaltaToday. The ministry is responsible for the Public Contracts Re- view Board that will adjudicate the tender. Sources close to the health ministry said potential bidders sought several clarifica-tions, which required significant time to be dealt with. Additionally, one of the bid-ders is under- stood to have requested that the deadlines be extended to allow more time to evaluate the tender conditions. The ministry spokesperson said the deadlines were ex- tended "to ensure the required clarifications could be upload- ed within the prescribed time- frame". The revised deadlines were published on the electronic ten- dering portal and commu-nica- ted through "Clarification Note 14", the spokesperson added. They said this approach was consistent with tender regula- tions. "Regulation 262(1) per- mits prospective candidates and tenderers to file a reasoned application before the Public Contracts Review Board within the first two-thirds of the ten- der submission pe-riod," the spokesperson said. Sir Temi Zammit will be a 300-bed public hospital built on the grounds of St Vincent de Paul home for the elderly. According to the tender pub- lished in April, the winning bidder will build the hospital and operate it for 27 years. The capital expenditure will be re- couped by the private company over the concession's term by billing govern-ment for servic- es rendered. The tender is val- ued at €1.4 billion. The hospital will offer in-pa- tient medical care for elderly people, who do not require treatment at an acute general hospital but require medical care unavailable in a home. Tender documentation shows that the stated aim of the hos- pital will be to alleviate pres- sure from Mater Dei Hospital. The hospital will consist of an admission area with 12 cubicles that will be managed and ad- ministered by the government, and 12 wards with a minimum of 24 beds each operated and managed by the private com- pany. The winning bidder will be expected to finish construc- tion works and start operating the wards, 30 months from the issue of all permits. The com- pany will manage and op-erate the hospital wards for 27 years and six months. Tender documentation shows that bidders will be expected to factor in any capital expendi- ture incurred during the first phase into the overall financial offer. KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Artist's impression of the new hospital for old people that is to be built on the grounds of St Vincent de Paul in Luqa