NKTI: Transactions above board

MANILA, Philippines - This is in reference to the column of Mr. Jarius Bondoc which was published at the Pilipino Star Ngayon last Dec. 29, 2009, and Philippine STAR on Jan. 4, 2010, respectively, regarding the Diagnostic Center and Hemodialysis Center projects of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute.

For your information, the NKTI is still in the process of finalizing the procurement of the diagnostic equipment in accordance with the guidelines prescribed in the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Hence, no contract has been entered into by NKTI and the said procurement still has to undergo Board of Trustees’ approval contrary to the issues published in his columns.

With regard to the Hemodialysis Project, we would like to inform you that the public bidding was conducted by the Bids and Award Committee (BAC) through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of R.A. 9184. All interested bidders were present during the pre-bid conference conducted for the purpose where the technical and other concerns were discussed. On contention of the required details on miscellaneous requirements asked for, which should comprise the technical and financial proposals of the bidders, the BAC examined thoroughly the bid proposal of the losing bidder (German) and its interstices, and sad to say, the BAC found none. Thus, its bid was declared non-compliant and non-responsive by the BAC using non-discretionary pass/fail criterion.

The losing bidder’s (German) allegation of tailor-fitting was squarely already dealt with, and the need for a slow low efficient dialysis (SLED) capable machine was explained to them by the Bids and Award Committee. Paragraph 4 of Bid Bulletin No. 09-135-03 states that as early as 2003, the NKTI Hemodialysis Center already required hemodialysis machine capable of SLED with a dialysate flow rate of at least 200ml/min. Therefore, at the time, the proponents interested in participating in the bidding for the Hemodialysis Center-Annex, were already aware of this requirement.”

In 2009, and moving forward, the NKTI Hemodialysis Center expects older patients, majority of whom may be diabetic, with more co-morbidities, and the Center requires the capability of dialyzing these sicker patients. The Hemodialysis In-Patient Center patients are in critical conditions and machines should be capable of performing SLED at low dialysate flow rates. Moreover, at the Hemodialysis Out-Patient Center, though machines could be used for regular Hemodialysis or Hemodiafiltration during the day, they could be used to offer SLED at night, so that patients requiring this procedure could be accommodated, without the need for admission.”

Thus, more than six years ago, the losing bidder (German) knew fully well the increasing need for a SLED capable machine. Unfortunately, said losing bidder never bothered to upgrade its machines, not even to cope with the flow rate of at least 200ml/min already required in 2003. Indeed, said bidder had only itself to blame.

Further, all losing bidders have the right to file a formal protest in accordance with the rules on public bidding and procurement law if they are not amenable to the outcome of the public bidding. Filing of formal protest would entail a non-refundable protest fee of 1% of the total project cost.

There were already articles on same matters that were published previously and we have requested for a meeting with Mr. Jarius Bondoc to clarify the issues. However, the meeting did not materialize and unfortunately, another follow-up articles were published to the detriment of NKTI’s good reputation as a premier government healthcare corporation.

It is worthy to mention that NKTI has been compliant to all government rules and regulations and all major actions and transactions entered into by the NKTI are above board. Furthermore, NKTI has been a recipient of numerous awards and citations for good governance and quality management. — ENRIQUE T. ONA, MD Executive Director, National Kidney and Transplant Institute