Lowest bidders for Capitol’s security services undergo post-qualification

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu provincial government is assessing two lowest bidders for the Capitol’s security services with respect to their financial and technical capabilities to undertake the contracts.

The Capitol’s Bids and Awards Committee is subjecting GDS Security and Detective Agency and General Services, and Tactical Security Agency Inc. (TSAI) to a post-qualification evaluation.

GDS and TSAI are the Capitol’s current service providers.

Tactical is in charge of securing the Capitol-owned properties in the north, while GDS is in charge in the south. The BAC allocated P25 million budget per area per year. Each contract lasts for two years.

Their existing contracts with the Capitol are supposed to expire next month, but the BAC extended their contracts for one month pending the approval of the new contracts by the Provincial Board.

“In view of the contract nga mo-expire na, we asked a one month extension na in case dili pa mahuman,” said Jone Seigfred Sepe, BAC member and head of the Provincial General Services Office.

Sepe said the BAC can extend the contract of a service provider up to six months after expiration if the new contractor’s contract has yet to be approved by the PB.

The PB will then authorize the governor to enter into an agreement, on behalf of the provincial government, with the winning bidders.

The GDS and TSAI were declared as lowest bidders during the recently-concluded bidding.

The total 50-million contract is higher by P13 million compared to the previous years with P37 million.

Sepe attributed the increase to the additional security personnel.

He said the provincial government is now in need of at least 200 security personnel unlike before that it only needed 111 guards.

The additional guards will be primarily stationed in the provincial hospitals and the new Capitol facilities, including the Provincial Women and Children Development Center in Barangay Lahug in Cebu City.

Each provincial hospital will be augmented with three to six guards, said Sepe.

So far, Sepe said the provincial government is satisfied with the performances and services being rendered by the two security agencies. —  KBQ (FREEMAN)