Bidding failure looms for automated poll contract

MANILA, Philippines – Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Jose Melo expressed concern about a bidding failure after the agency’s Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) rejected four more bidders for the P11.3-billion poll automation contract.

Melo, who has stayed on the sidelines since the SBAC held a pre-bidding conference last month and started opening the bid offers last Monday, said: “I am worried about this bidding.”

In an interview, he said a failure in the bidding might result in Comelec reverting to manual elections next year.

The Comelec-SBAC said the four bidders failed to submit certain documentary requirements, bringing to six the consortiums rejected in the eligibility screening.

Seven consortiums have submitted bid offers to supply the precinct count optical scanner (PCOS) machines for the 2010 polls.

Last Tuesday night, the SBAC declared Total Information Management Co. of the Philippines and Smartmatic of the Netherlands as “ineligible to bid” for failing to submit an ISO 9000 certification.

The ISO 9001:2000 certification presented by Smartmatic “does not belong to it, but was issued to Jarltech International Inc. which is not a member of the joint venture,” it said.

Yesterday, the committee rejected the consortium of Amalgated Metro Philippines and Syrex Inc., both of the Philippines, and Anishin Inc. of Taiwan for not presenting a certificate of registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the consortium of AMA Group of Companies of the Philippines and Election System and Software of USA for failing to submit a license to import.

This leaves only the bid offers of Gilat of Israel and F.F. Cruz and Co. Inc. of the Philippines to be reviewed by the SBAC.

SBAC chairman and Comelec’s Law Department director Ferdinand Rafanan echoed Melo’s sentiments.

“We are at peace but, of course, we are sad. Who wants to have a failed bidding... Maybe the rules are strict enough and I would see it from the perspective that the SBAC is applying the rules without bending them,” Rafanan said.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez expressed confidence that the automation would still push through as bidders have three days upon receipt of the SBAC notice to file a motion for reconsideration.

He added that he sees the rejection of the six bidders “as part of the Comelec doing its job and if it contributes to the perception of the Comelec doing its job well done, so much the better.”

Asked about the possibility of employing negotiated contract in choosing the supplier of the machines, Jimenez said “such a means (is possible) if allowed under the law.”

“It’s not out of the question. It’s allowed but we are trying to avoid that situation,” he said.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino also expressed concern that the disqualification of the four bidders could affect the conduct of the 2010 elections.

Palatino said the setbacks in the bidding process would not only affect Comelec’s procurement of automation equipment, but also the voters’ education program.

“The successive disqualification of bidders for poll automation is a big blow to Comelec’s preparations for the 2010 elections. While we commend Comelec for its thorough screening, we fear that further delays in its already tight schedule may affect the electoral exercise next year,” Palatino said.

“There might not be enough time to educate voters and train election volunteers,” he said.

“Half-baked preparations would only sow confusion and lead to more election irregularities,” said Palatino. – Sheila Crisostomo, Rainier Allan Ronda