MIAA defends negotiated P486-M CCTV deal

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) has defended the negotiated procurement for the P486-million closed-circuit television (CCTV) system project.

In a statement, MIAA said the decision to have a negotiated mode of procurement for the project was made following two failed public biddings for the deal. 

Under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, an alternative mode of procurement or negotiated procurement can be used in case there are two failed biddings. 

The MIAA noted the bidding for the project covering the installation of CCTV units inside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport initially set in February 2014 was canceled after a safety advisory from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) against the use of wireless connectivity. 

The advisory from the CAAP prompted the MIAA to revise the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the CCTV project.

In August 2014, the first official bidding conducted for the project was declared a failure as bidders did not meet the technical requirements. 

The second official bidding in August 2014 also failed for the same reason. 

The MIAA said no further changes to the project TOR were made from the first official public bidding to the second one. 

The key elements such as the bill of quantities and the approved budget for the contract remained the same. 

In deciding to have a negotiated procurement for the CCTV project, MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado said the agency sought the opinion of the Government Procurement Policy Board.