Even though the State Government has repeatedly stressed on following the 5T norms, the awarding of a tender (No. 11418, dated 30.9.2020) by the PD DRDA, Chhatrapur in Ganjam district for supply of fans and LED bulbs for Anganwadi Centres in the district has led to many eyebrows raised due to a number of deviations in the tender conditions.
The lowest bidder (L1) for the tender has been ignored and the L2 bidder was favoured by the purchase committee. For which the firm has requested the Ganjam district Collector for a review the matter.
Sources said the Sona Garments of Mayurbhanj become the lowest bidder for fans when the bids were opened at the DRDA office. The firm’ Bajaj Fans met the technical specification of 1star fan. As per the Government norms after October 31, 2019, the Bajaj model Energy Smart was 5star rated model and now the same model has been benchmarked as 1 star rated category. But later, the authorities issued a corrigendum (No 11761, dated 12.10 2020) and changed into 3 Star in the in the financial bid, though they had not mentioned it in the technical bid.
Notably, in any tender the technical bid specification is always countable. The purchase issued the order to the L2 bidder in basis of financial bid specification with Rs 209 rate difference is illegal.
Similarly, the Sona Garments 3 star Havells Bulb was ignored and the purchase committee selected a non-brand bulb (Rs 168) of a firm which claimed to be a MSME, without any testing. Besides, the L2 bidder was exempted paper cost and EMD claiming to be a MSME unit. But he applied for Usha fan through an authorised person but was again exempted paper cost and EMD, though the fan was not his own products. It should have been disqualified in this ground.
The Sona Garments, besides a review by the Collector, has in an RTI sought on what conditions its bid was disqualified. But it is yet to receive a reply.