Firm for Demerara crossing study not picked via tender

-PPP/C urges procurement body to probe

Following an opposition request for an investigation into the award of the contract for the feasibility study and design for the new Demerara River crossing to LievenseCSO, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure last night said that the Dutch firm was selected after the initial procurement process was annulled and it sought out consultants worldwide.

In response to a letter by PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira to the Public Procurement Commission requesting an investigation, the ministry said it acted with the knowledge of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and the bid that was received from the company was found to be the best, technically and fiscally, of all that had been received.

“…the Ministry of Public Infrastructure wishes to emphasise that we welcome the investigation by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) since we are confident that the findings will reveal that our above statements are factual,” the ministry said in a statement, where it also accused the parliamentary opposition of “clutching at straws” in efforts to undermine the government. “Instead, we call for their support as we make strides to execute a project that will lend to significant development for our nation. We will not be deterred to deliver on our mandate to the people of Guyana,” it added.

Earlier, Teixeira had released to the media her letter to the PPC, dated September 18, 2017, and in which she detailed her concerns over the award of the contract to LievenseCSO, which was not among the 22 companies from around the world that bid for the contract. She charged that the selection of the firm lacked transparency and violated the procurement laws. She further urged the PPC to also examine the new tender posted for the prequalification of contractors for the finance, design, construction and maintenance of the new bridge and to monitor the process to ensure the procurement laws are followed.

“This project is of significant importance to our nation, and, one that will clearly come at a great cost to the Guyanese taxpayer now and in the future, therefore the public expects unflinching diligence by the PPC in order to protect the Guyanese people’s interests and uphold the constitutional provisions,” she wrote.

Calls by Stabroek News to the PPC Chairperson Carol Corbin were not returned.

It was Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who had announced LievenseCSO’s selection at the November 22, 2016, post-Cabinet press briefing.

Harmon had noted that Cabinet had that week approved a request by Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson for the feasibility study to be conducted. He reminded that a pre-feasibility study was done by the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation in collaboration with the Public Infrastructure Ministry in 2013. That study, he said, concluded that a new high level fixed bridge was the best option to be pursued.

And while then he did not state if LievenseCSO was one of the companies, Harmon informed the Ministry of Public Infrastructure had advertised for suitable consultants to conduct a feasibility study that would lead to the construction of the bridge through a privatepublic partnership model.

According to Harmon, the ministry had since received an offer from LievenseCSO, which is a recognized Dutch consultancy firm, to conduct the feasibility study and design for the new bridge as well as a detailed investigation for prospective financiers and the preparation of a private-public partnership tender document.

‘Highly suspect’

However, in her letter, Teixeira reminded that based on press reports, 22 companies had responded to a public advertisement seeking expressions of interest for the consultancy for the feasibility study and designs of the crossing.

The opening of those tenders were conducted on December 8, 2015 and publicised in the December 9, 2015 edition of the Stabroek News, under the headline ‘22 bid for new Demerara Bridge feasibility study, design.’

However, she highlighted the absence of LievenseCSO among the 22 companies.

Teixeira added that part of Guyana’s international obligations under the InterAmerican Convention against Corruption is to ensure that there is transparency and accountability in order to enhance public trust and confidence, particularly in respect to the public procurement process. She noted that regulations for the procurement legislation provide for the posting on the NPTAB website information and minutes on the opening of the bids, the awards of tenders, and protests but there was no record on the site of the opening of bids/Expressions of Interest for the consultancy on December 8, 2015 or any other date. “Nor in fact, are there any minutes that reflect the submission of these 22 companies,” she further said.

NPTAB Head Berkeley Wickham had previously told Stabroek News, when queries were made, that the