3 firms bid for P50-M fixtures in New Government Center
BACOLOD City -- Out of the 14, only three firms participated in the bidding for the P50 million furniture and fixtures for the new government center (NGC) which officially started yesterday.
The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) with the Technical Working Group, representative from the Commission on Audit and several concerned government agencies officially started the bidding process yesterday with companies like Summit/ERGO of Makati; COMFAC Corp. also of Makati and Zacto System's Philippines Inc., submitting their bid documents including the samples of the furniture and fixtures.
BAC chairman Atty. Goldwin Nifras said the Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of Atty. Gliceria Caduhada, Chairperson and members City Accountant Ed Ravena and Engr. Belly Aguillon examined the eligibility submissions and the technical bid.
He said that he does not know exactly the reason why others did not participate in the bidding. "I can only venture that probably among the reasons was that they cannot comply with the requirements that we set. It usually happens during the bidding. There are others who may be interested but upon close examination and clarification they back out from the bidding," Nifras said.
Mr. Victor Puey of Zacto complained that they were not allowed to enter the premises of the NGC for them to assemble their "mock ups" a day before the date of the bidding.
He said that only the two firms were allowed to get inside by 11 p.m. of August 19, 2008.
Puey said that the "mock ups" of the two bidders came in one van at night. But Zacto which came around 4 p.m. of August 19, 2008 to also set up their "mock ups" was not allowed to enter the NGC.
Nifras however said a miscommunication happened reason why Zacto was not able to enter NGC.
Nifras added that Zacto was not disadvantaged because they were also given sufficient time to set up.
Nifras said the TWG will be given time to examine everything. He said that as per past experience, "we have to deliberate on their findings and recommendations because what happened is that there might be documents that TWG have concerns or questions. So we sit together with the BAC, deliberate on it and decide on things before coming out with a decision whether to pass the prospective bidders or not."
He said that they will not be able to finish it in a day because the documents will have to be evaluated and per specification in the bid documents, there is certain finished type and materials used which have to be closely examined by our TWG for the evaluation of the "mock ups", Nifras said.
"There are only three bidders, we can give them sufficient time and come up with really good evaluations--fair and transparent evaluation," Nifras ended.