Dear Editor,
Bids were opened earlier this month and read for a tender contract (NDIA) to supply a fixed quantity of steel sheet piles. This is a re-tendering of a bid put out last November for sheet piling. No award was made last November although several bids were tendered for the correct grade of sheet pile at a competitive price by reputable bidders. There were complaints of the lowest bid not getting the contract last November. It is the norm that the lowest bid gets the contract once the company demonstrates the ability to carry out the work or supply the required materials. In this case, the re-tendered bid was awarded last Thursday in memo by cabinet and not to the lowest bidder but at some $40M above the lowest bid. Why?
Taxpayers will now have to fork out an extra $40 million during this tough Covid time. This money could have been used to provide grants to the unemployed. Will there be an investigation? Coincidentally, a high official of the government has been residing in a house of the selected bidder on the East Bank. Information available is that all bidders will have to supply, according to the tender, the same specifications for the sheet piles and all qualified in the other areas outlined in the tender. Several bids were tendered to supply the sheet piles. The sheet piles were all to be obtained from the same company in Holland. Thus, the price for the sheet piles was not expected to vary.
The lowest bid was $172+M followed by $178+M, $187+M, $194+M, and the last was almost $211M. There were also other bids lower than as well as higher than the latter. Why was the highest bid chosen for this contract – costing government almost $40M more? The country needs answers!
Sincerely,
Sharmila Ally
