Four months after a protest was filed by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) to the Bid Protest Committee (BPC) over the award of a contract for the supply of juice for government’s school feeding programme, sources say a decision is expected by tomorrow.
Stabroek News was told that the BPC has completed its deliberations over the award and is preparing its findings which will be made known to the parties involved very soon.
In September of this year, DDL filed a formal protest against their loss of a bid to supply boxed juices for the national school feeding programme which went to Surinamese company, Rudisa.
There has been no word from the BPC, which is headed by Attorney at Law Joann Bond, since its establishment in July, before the establishment of the main procurement body, the Public Procurement Commission.
Stabroek News has contacted Bond once since she was sworn in as Chairman and had asked for comment on her role at the BPC but she would only say that she would not comment.
But Chairwoman of the PPC, Carol Corbin has told Stabroek News that her commission would not take over complaints that were filed with the BPC before the PPC’s establishment and as such would allow the BPC to complete its work.
“With regard to the Bid Protest Committee, whatever is before them, for example the juice contract that is still with them and being reviewed they will have to complete that. But I have confirmed with the tender board chairman that matter (the juice contract) is still being reviewed by them and they have not concluded it as yet but any new matters will come to us and then we will start our relationship with the Bid Protest Committee,” The PPC Chairman had explained.
Asked about why there has been no word from the BPC, Corbin said that she had “no idea” and pointed out that the committee was one where it would go against the law for commenting on
specific cases while they were being deliberated on.
Four bids were submitted on May 24th of this year when the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) opened tenders at its Main and Urquhart streets office, Georgetown.
