BAC removes standard requirement in bidding

CEBU, Philippines - Insisting that China-made is still acceptable, the Capitol Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) hastily deleted the G7 standard requirement in the bidding of the P252.7 million worth of light and heavy equipment.

The BAC headed by Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino has posted Tuesday on its bulletin on the Capitol website Addendum No. 16-58 deleting the “G7 Standard” from the specifications.

The FREEMAN reported Monday that some bidders were confused when BAC required all interested suppliers for the current bid to strictly comply with the G7 standard. But BAC member Atty. Donato Villa Jr. said that “China is and will also be considered with G7 standard and acceptable, provided that it was recognized by US government.”

However, the posting is short of the seven days requirement as provided for under Rule VII of the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

BAC sets the bid opening on Monday, November 14, at 10 a.m. Late bids shall not be accepted.

Bidders should have completed within two years from the date of submission and receipt of bids a single contract similar to the project equivalent to at least 50 percent of the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC).

Addendum No. 16-56 posted on Monday has changed it to five years, but a new update posted on Tuesday made it back into two years.

Under technical specification, “bids will be accepted only from or on behalf of manufacturers of known registered brands and who can provide suitable assurances that spare parts and service facilities will be available in local market in the Philippines as and when needed.”

However, it was changed under Addendum No. 16-56 that “bids will be accepted only from or on behalf of manufacturers of known registered brands, with office in Cebu City, and who can provide suitable assurances that spare parts and service center/facilities will be available in Cebu City as and when needed.”

Earlier insistence to consider China-made products has raised the eyebrows of some suppliers who are now suspecting that the bidding process would still favor a China-made equipment supplier. They are apparently referring to ConEquip Philippines, who won in the previous bidding earlier this year despite posting the most expensive bid of P250 million.

This scheduled bidding is the second call for heavy equipment suppliers after the previous bid was declared last July as failed by Governor Hilario Davide III to dispel all doubts on the integrity of procurement at the Capitol in light of accusations of overpricing. (FREEMAN)