Haryana Government has decided to formulate a time bound Grievance Redressal Mechanism for participating bidders or firms for dealing with their representations or complaints or letters in the tendering process so as to bring more transparency in public procurement in the State.
A spokesman of Industries and Commerce Department said a provision would be made in the software of the procurement portal where all the bidders or firms would be asked to accept that they agree to all qualifying requirements that is specifications or eligibility criteria or terms and conditions of the said Detailed Notice Inviting Tenders (DNIT). In case the bidder or the firm does not accept the same, the software would not allow the bidder or the firm to proceed further in the procurement process.
The Grievance Redressal Mechanism for participating bidders or firms would be made an integral part of the DNIT for all type of public procurement. He said after the final scrutiny of the technical bids by the competent authority in Government Department or organisation, the final status of the bidders being as per NIT or not as per the NIT would be intimated to all the participating bidders or firms within two days of the approval of proceeding of the final technical committee meeting for the said tender. The decision would be conveyed to the bidders or firms electronically at their registered e-mail ID or hard copy.
He said all the bidders or firms who want to make any representation or complaint against any issue related to their technical scrutiny of the bids may execute the same within five working days, up to 5 p.m. of the fifth working day, of the date of issue of letter or intimation regarding their status, as per NIT or not as per NIT. They have to ensure that their communication is delivered or reached within five working days and postal delay would not be counted as a valid reason.
The tendering Department or organisation would examine the representation or complaints so received from the bidders or firms and take a final decision on the same within five working days. The five working days will be counted from sixth to tenth working day of the total grievance allotted duration of 10 working days. After the completion of the grievance allotted duration of 10 working days, the financial bid would be opened. No representation or complaint in whatsoever manner from the bidders or firms would be entertained after the opening of financial bid.
He said in case, some serious issue is observed during the examination of representation or complaint of the bidder or firm, the same would be finalized or filed or if required may be brought to the notice of High Powered Purchase Committee or any competent authority during the finalisation of the procurement.