BAC to pursue bidding on NGC furniture despite opposition
BACOLOD CITY -- Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairman Atty. Goldwyn Nifras announced yesterday that majority of the BAC members had decided to pursue the opening of bid documents on August 20, 2008 despite opposition from some suppliers that the city government is abruptly resorting to the so-called "process of elimination" when they set limited schedule for all suppliers to comply all necessary requirement for bidding.
Nifras said the BAC members had come into agreement that they will not change their guidelines and if the suppliers are not in favor to this, it impliedly means that the suppliers do not have capability and manufacturing facilities to meet their standard.
The controversy arose last Friday, during the pre-bid conference, when one of the suppliers, Engr. Bernabe Gilbor representing "Four SG Enterprise" manifested to back out from the bidding because all his technical questions was not answered including the requirement of capital build up amounting to P12.5 million and within 12 days compliance for putting up sample furniture for New Government Center.
Nifras further said that if they could not meet the requirements, it means that they are small supplier that could not meet this huge amount of project. "This is P50 million worth of furniture for New Government Center and we need capable supplier for this," Nifras said.
After the pre-bid conference last August 8, 2008, Another supplier Zacto System represented by Mr. Victor Puey criticized BAC Members because their questions and clarifications were not addressed. Puey said that they have no ample time to meet the deadline specified on the scheduled bidding particularly by putting up sample furniture for this kind of project. Gilbor and Puey jointly expressed that it is a waste of time in attending this pre-bid conference if after all it is a process of elimination.
Record from BAC Secretariat showed that there were 14 suppliers who applied to participate in the bidding and most of them are based in Manila and Cebu.
On the other hand, Nifras said that not all suppliers are critical of the bidding process because right after the pre-bid conference, there are some who had submitted their furniture designs and ready to comply with all the necessary requirements.
He added that after the award to the winning bidder, the supplier will deliver the furniture within 30 days. The BAC chairman also said that they are in a hurry to transfer to the New Government Center from the old city hall.