In last week’s article, we began a discussion of the Public Procurement Commission’s (PPC) summary report on the award of the contract to Tepui Group in the sum of $865.5 million for the construction of a sluice and pump station at Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara. Tepui Group was not only the third lowest responsive bid but also lacked the requisite experience stipulated in the bidding documents. The company was formed in August 2022, while the invitation to tender for the works was advertised in May 2023.
So far, we have discussed the PPC’s assessment of the evaluation criteria relating to the bidder’s experience. This required the bidder to ‘demonstrate specific construction experience by providing copies of contracts with previous clients that show the bidder has completed one (1) project of similar nature within the past five (5) years. (Similar projects shall include pump stations, sluices and drainage structures)’. The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) argued that the decisions regarding the bid evaluation were consistent with past practices, where ‘leniency was extended to bidders lacking direct pump station construction experience but demonstrating proficiency in similar projects’.