Lowest bidder of Capitol deal ‘not notified of disqualification’

CEBU, Philippines - The lowest bidder of the P250-million heavy equipment deal of the Province of Cebu claimed that the Bids and Awards Committee did not notify them of their disqualification in favor of the highest bidder.

In a letter dated November 10, 2015 addressed to Governor Hilario Davide III, RDAK Transport Equipment, Inc. said it only knew of their post-disqualification on November 4, 2015, the day the procurement documents were endorsed by BAC to Ad-Hoc Committee – Review of BAC Documents chaired by Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero.

“I like to point out that I find this notice’s date suspect considering that I was always at the BAC office to follow up on the progress of the bidding and I was not made aware of the existence of this notice, precisely the reason why yesterday, November 9, 2015, I wrote you to seek for the post qualification process,” read the letter signed by Bartolome Cabigas, authorized company representative.

RDAK appealed to BAC to reconsider its “notice of disqualification” and its lieu to award the bid to the company considering further that it has submitted the lowest calculated and responsive bid and is willing to comply with the requirements.

RDAK, which bid the lowest amount of P235 million, was disqualified on the ground that it did not comply with the required specifications of at least three items such as the 260 Horsepower (Hp) of 4x2 water tank truck, 7.0 cubic meter 4x2 dumptruck and 7.0 minimum cubic meter dumptruck.

Cabigas claimed to have not been informed of the addendum for additional specifications requirements of BAC.

“While I was regularly making follow ups in the progress of the bid process, I was not informed of the issuance of the addendum even as I would readily and easily have complied with this,” he said.

He also pointed out that the standard set by the Province for a dumptruck of 7.0 cubic meter load capacity requires the engine to generate 160Hp which accordingly is below the Philippine standard and the design is not tested.

Cabigas said Isuzu dumptruck, a Japan design standard, with a 6.0 cubic meter dumpbox is designed to be capable to carry at full load of high density materials such as sand, gravel or limestone.

He said the offered design has proven track record that it can efficiently, effectively and economically carry the prime functional task and purpose of the equipment which is for “use in the provincial road construction and maintenance.”

“The offer of our company is evidently higher standard compared to the procuring entity’s set of standard and therefore, is advantageous to the government and technically complied,” Cabigas said.

Aside from RDAK, BAC also disqualified Civic Merchandising, Inc. which offered P237 million on the same ground of not complying with a particular specification.

The deal was awarded to ConEquip Philippines, Inc. which offered the highest bid of P250 million. — Gregg M. Rubio /NSA (FREEMAN)