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This tender is being shaped to favour a certain bidder

Aug 16, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am writing in relation to the GPL-IDB-EU-002-2017 Lot B Tender whose closing date has been extended to 22 August 2017. I am consulting with one of the bidders and we only received a number of changes to the bid specifications at the eleventh hour, a few days ago and frankly, we are concerned that the process is being rigged to favour a certain bidder.
The most glaring example is that the specs for the meter distribution box have been changed from POLYCARBONATE to METAL. Surely this is a retrograde step, since the polycarbonate box would have provided over 25 years of protection for the smart meters and distribution connectors, whereas a metal box will corrode quickly, especially along our coastal areas, resulting in the loss of millions of US dollars. Additionally, there is no spec as to the thickness or type of metal to be used, so I would not be surprised if the thinnest gauge of metal sheeting is used, thus requiring replacement within a year, owing to corrosion. Another tender would then have to be awarded to replace all of the metal meter boxes, at further cost.
Did Minister Patterson and /or the IDB approve of such a change, which is clearly a retrograde step, based on common sense, not engineering knowledge? Do the guys at GPL who approved such a stupid change consider the repercussions? Or is it that they just want to please their friends who cannot match the original specs? Additionally, Bid Clarification No. 7 was received after Bid Clarifications Nos. 8 and 9. Was it deliberately withheld?
I am appealing to Minister Patterson and the IDB to urgently look at this issue and other recent changes, which are being used to delay the closure date of the tender, to the benefit of a certain bidder. Our taxpayers dollars have to repay this IDB loan so please Mr. Minister please investigate these GPL guys as early as possible.
Gavin Smith

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