This tendering process is suspect

May 27, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,

Please crave my indulgence as I highlight what I consider to be an anomaly in relation to the tendering process. On 18th November 2015, bids were opened for the provision of security services for the Regional Democratic Council Region No. 1. Bidders were notified via the Bid Document that the commencement date for the provision of the aforementioned services would have been December 1, 2015. This, for whatever reason(s), did not occur.
Nevertheless, from 2015 to date, bidders have been anxiously awaiting the no objection from Cabinet in relation to the provision of security coverage for the ten (10) Administrative Regions, Ministries of Education, Social Protection, Public Service et al to no avail and wondering why things were creeping at a snail’s gallop.
I was reading the Kaieteur News dated Wednesday May 18, 2016 and, lo and behold, on page 12 : “Under the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for Region One, there were several projects that tenders were put out for. One was a multi-million dollar project for the provision of security services”.
Bidders Amount
RK’s $93.7M
Strategic $89.4M
Sentinel $69.2M

It is important to note that in November 2015, only three companies bid for the Region 1 contract and Sentinel (formerly COPS) was not one of them. In the current year, this contract was not retendered but, to all appearances, it was an invitation sent only to the abovementioned companies (Restricted Tendering/Bidding) that have been, previously, (this is no secret, it’s in the public domain) guilty of one or all of the following infractions: poor quality of security officers, poor service quality and late payment of wages and salaries among others
The whole thing stinks like yesterday’s diapers. We wait to read who would be the lesser of three evils when the contract is awarded. I caught myself thinking that this might be the trend or pattern with regard to the other contracts. Do the people who recommend and approve the award of contracts take time to read bidders supporting documents with a view of ascertaining bidders’ qualification and experience or is it a foregone conclusion that once you are a new kid on the block you do not have the requisite experience and qualification to be awarded government contracts or is it that some of us are regarded with contempt or is there favouritism in the tender process and if this is the thinking, then one can understand the rationale why time is not wasted reading supporting documents especially those that belong to new and small companies. Is this the step toward a better life for all including small contractors? I think not! The powers that be are slowly destroying people’s trust and respect in them.
Concerned Bidder

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