In our article of 9 October 2023, we discussed the award of the contract for the construction of a sluice pump station at Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara, to Tepui Group Inc. in the sum of $865.5 million. This was in the light of Member of Parliament, David Patterson, requesting the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) to investigate whether the award of the contract was above board. Mr. Patterson contended that the company was not eligible for the award since it did not have the requisite experience stipulated in the bid documents, that is, successful completion of projects similar in nature and size within the last three years. Tepui Group was formed in August 2022, while the invitation to tender for the works was advertised in May 2023.
We examined the issue and after careful analysis, we concluded that has been a violation of Sections 39 (2), 39 (5)(a) and 39 (6)(a) of the Procurement Act for the following reasons:
The Evaluation Committee did not adhere to the evaluation criteria set out in the bidding documents to determine the lowest evaluated bid. The Act is clear that only the evaluation criteria set out in the bidding documents must be used.