Discrepancy in bidding schedules questioned
The Department of Public Works and Highways has posted “confusing” bidding schedules for the construction of flyovers, interchanges and underpasses worth P890 million at the intersection of UN Avenue (Marcelo Fernan Bridge) and Plaridel St., in Mandaue City
A prospective bidder, who asked for anonymity, showed to The FREEMAN a copy of DPWH-7’s supplemental bulletin, which provides that the dropping and opening of bid documents is on October 11.
However, it is also posted in the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) website that the deadline for the buying of bid documents worth P75,000 is until October 23.
“I am requesting to rectify the violations of the bidding procedure which will affect and delay the proposed project, jeopardizing innocent DPWH officials of the project will be bided in violation of RA 9184, placing bidders in a disadvantageous position and depriving them the opportunity from bidding on an equal footing with other contractors as mandated in the RA 9184,” the bidder said.
Marie Nillama, Information officer of DPWH7, said the agency will issue a statement today to shed light on the issue.
PhilGEPS published the said project on September 2 to 8, 2017 wherein the dropping and opening of bids is on October 23.
The source said the period from the last day of publication is only 45 days or short of five days from the maximum of 50-day requirement in the Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
On September 20 during the pre-bid conference, the Bids and Awards Committee of DPWH-7 issued the Supplemental Bid Bulletin No. 3, moving the opening of bids from October 23 to October 11 but the buying of bid documents remains until October 23.
“This is very confusing for the bidders who did not attend the pre-bid conference and who participated to buy the bid documents later,” said the bidder.
The bidder claimed that even if the supplemental bulletin was posted in the DPWH website, Section 22.5.3 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9184 provides that “any supplemental or bid bulletin issued by BAC shall also be posted in the PhilGEPS.”
“The reduction of the submission time of the bids to October 11 from October 23 is tantamount to rigging of the bidding and giving favor to selective bidders who already attended the bidding of the above similar project in Cebu and has already prepared his bidding documents ahead of the other bidders considering that this bidding is for design and build,” the bidder further said.
The pre-bid conference was attended by eight contractors who requested for the extension time of the dropping of the bid documents, but the BAC reportedly denied their request.
“On behalf of the bidders who are asking for justice and opportunity to bid on the said project, I am urgently requesting for the kind consideration of the BAC to bid the project as published in the PhilGEPS last September 2 to 8, 2017 for the submission of the bid documents on October 23, 2017,” the source added.