Another bidding for Capitol’s security

CEBU, Philippines - The post-qualification evaluation process for the Tactical Security Agency and GDS Security and Detective Agency will no longer be considered after Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III declared a failure of bidding yesterday.

Davide directed the Bids and Awards Committeeto conduct re-bidding for Capitol’s security agency provider.

“In light of the recent controversy involving Blackpearl Security Agency and in order to dispel all doubts, real or imagined, on the integrity of the provincial government’s bidding process, I have decided, as head of the procuring agency, to declare failure of bidding pursuant to section 41 of Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act,” Davide said in a letter sent to BAC.

He explained further that there is a need to revise the Terms of Reference.  He noted that the two-year security services contract might be too long, which limits Capitol’s prerogative “to seek better services in the future.”

BAC Chairman Mark Tolentino said the possibility of having only a one-year contract for security services will also be considered.

The committee will convene on Thursday to finalize the TOR.

After Blackpearl Security Agency was post-disqualified following several infractions that some of its guards reportedly committed, BAC decided on Friday to post-qualify Tactical and GDS. Its recommendation was forwarded to the governor on Monday.

Davide then called up for a meeting with the BAC members where they came up with a decision not to push through the post-qualification but declare a failure of bidding instead.

When asked whether or not the post-disqualified Blackpearl can still participate in the bidding, Tolentino said the committee will study the matter.

He further assured to fast track the re-bidding process.

Davide has directed BAC to invite observers from society organizations and members of the media to witness the bidding in order to “further enhance transparency.”

Further, Davide said that there is no need to wait for the Government Procurement Policy Board’s recommendation regarding the ‘inconsistency’ found in the Checklist and the Bid Data Sheet during the post-qualification evaluation for Blackpearl.

To recall, Blackpearl passed the requirement provided in the checklist, which requires a bidder to have a single largest contract in the past with a value of at least 50 percent of Capitol’s approved budget for contract amounting to P37 million.

BPSA reportedly has ongoing one single largest contract with Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino-Mactan worth P21 million.

But the Bid Data Sheet requires that the prospective bidder must have one completed project with a value of at least 25 percent of the approved budget of contract. — (FREEMAN)