DOTC extends deadline for LTO-IT project bids

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has given interested companies one more month to prepare bids for the P3.44 billion Land Transportation Office information technology system project.

Transportation Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla issued General Bid Bulletin No. 002-2014 moving the submission and opening of bid proposals to March 19 instead of Feb. 18 in order to give bidders more time to prepare their bidding documents.

“This is in order to provide bidders ample time to study the bidding documents and prepare a competitive offer,” Lotilla said.

The DOTC has decided to cut the cost of the LTO-IT system project to P3.44 billion instead of P8.2 billion after two failed biddings.

He pointed out that the agency would hold a pre-bid conference on Feb. 19.

The project involves the customization, development, integration, procurement, supply, delivery, installation, implementation, service and maintenance of the information and communications technology system of the agency.

The winning bidder would design and implement the required databases; establish or set up the LTO Data Center; supply, deliver, test, document, and install appropriate computing products and other resources relative to the implementation of the project on DOTC or LTO IT infrastructure and environment facilities; and deliver all hardware peripherals with software and corresponding licenses in the name of DOTC and warranties to efficiently run the system.

Likewise, the winning bidder would also operate and maintain the IT service delivery for LTO within the period of the contract and identify key processes and systems for the improvement, efficiency, and security of the DOTC or LTO processing.

Once the system is put in place, the DOTC said it would be easier for authorities to recover stolen vehicles, trace smuggled vehicles, prevent double registration, and monitor unregistered vehicles.

The agency added that the project would implement a server-based solutions based on an existing system that covers the motor vehicle registration system; drivers’ licensing system; law enforcement and traffic adjudication system; revenue collection system; and executive information system.

The bidding for the project has failed twice prompting the government to lower the cost compared to the original project cost of P8.2 billion.

The DOTC declared a failure of bidding last July after the financial proposals submitted by the three bidders failed to meet the agency’s requirement.