Way cleared for Bid Protest Committee to operate - Minister Harmon

Way cleared for Bid Protest Committee to operate – Minister Harmon

Aug 12, 2016 News

The Bid Protest Committee (BPC) has been approved through a decision by Cabinet and is now cleared to begin work. This was disclosed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at post Cabinet media briefing yesterday.
He said that the BPC will complement the work of the Public Procurement Commission “to further government’s commitment to transparency in the public procurement process.”
He disclosed that the Bid Protest Committee “will adjudicate over complaints filed by aggrieved contractors for a fee of $50,000 plus one percent of the bid sum in question.”
According to Harmon, the BPC was established on June 15, but its work did not start earlier because of the uncertainty about contract sums when Cabinet first made a decision about the fee and percentage for aggrieved contractors.
“It is now clear, it’s now clarified that we are talking about one percent of the bid sum. That should now clarify and clear the way for any protests that are before the committee to get that done.”
The decision by Cabinet now means that the BPC can start investigations into the procurement and awarding of the Haags Bosch Landfill site management contract.
Cevon’s Waste Management made several complaints regarding the bidding process and the eventual awarding of the Haags Bosch Landfill management contract to Puran Brothers.
Cevon’s had alleged favouritism on the part of the Government in awarding the contract to Puran Bros.
According to Cevon’s CEO Morse Archer, there was a rush to sign the contract which seemed “fishy”. Another issue cited was that Puran Bros’ estimate was some 32 percent below that of the Ministry’s engineer.
Archer stated that it was difficult to accept that Puran Bros is delivering at 32 percent below the engineer’s estimate and at the same time making a profit.
In response, Lakenauth Puran of Puran Bros said that his company had satisfied all the criteria for managing the Landfill site. Mr. Puran also said that the Ministry should address the issues brought forward by the Cevon’s group.
Ivor Allen, a partner of Cevon’s, has also expressed confidence in the Bid Protest Committee.

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