AMA consortium withdraws poll automation bid

MANILA, Philippines - The consortium of the AMA Group of Companies and Election System and Software (ES&S) withdrew yesterday its bid offer in the P11.3-billion automation contract of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), citing loss of confidence in the bidding process.

This development leaves only the consortium of Smartmatic and Total Information Management Corp. (TIM) as the last bidder vying for the project to automate next year’s polls.

In a manifestation, AMA project director Juanito Ramos Jr. and ES&S senior vice president John Groh withdrew their motion for reconsideration of the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) Resolution No. 11 dated May 25, 2009 which disqualified them from the bidding process for failing the technical screening.

“The joint venture reached this decision after reviewing the process of bid evaluation by the SBAC which has not resulted in an award after close to a month of marathon proceedings from the opening of the bids on May 4, 2009,” consortium officials said.

They said they “appreciate the transparency by the SBAC in an attempt to make the process competitive,” but they agree “with the views expressed by the other bidders that the SBAC changed the bid requirements too late into the process.”

“In the case of AMA/ES&S, it was declared ineligible three times not because of its failure to comply with bid requirements, but because the SBAC strictly interpreted the bid instructions,” the manifestation stated.

They noted that the bidding process was hampered by the need to file motions for reconsideration every time SBAC declared a bidder ineligible, “only to reconsider such ruling once the bidder explained the correct application of the bidding requirements.”

“AMA and ES&S joint venture no longer feels confident in the integrity of the entire process, with much regret. It is therefore compelled to withdraw its motion for reconsideration,” they added.

In an interview, Ramos claimed the group lost the “interest to participate in the bidding due to what has been going on in the bidding… part and parcel” of which is the smoking incident when Smartmatic was demonstrating their machines last Thursday.

He refused to elaborate for fear of being cited in contempt. But he was apparently referring to an incident last Thursday when a machine of Smartmatic-TIM had emitted smoke during a demonstration.

But a Smartmatic representative explained that the cable used to connect the machine to the battery was too thin, causing a short circuit. 

SBAC head Ferdinand Rafanan said the withdrawal was still subject to the approval of the committee, but admitted it could not compel the bidder to participate in the bidding.

“Confidence is personal. It depends on your level of good feelings, of emotion, and if they feel they are already defeated, their feelings are low... That’s making arson out of a little spark,” Rafanan said.

He explained that Smartmatic-TIM machines have already passed the 26 criteria set for the demonstration.

“The machines have been tested four times and in all those times, the accuracy rating was 100 percent,” he said.

In the first test, the machines processed 625 ballots, 640 ballots in the second, 984 ballots in the second, and 1,000 ballots in the fourth test.

Rafanan said in spite of this, Smartmatic-TIM is not yet a sure winner, as it still has to go through post-qualification screening regarding their incorporators and corporate relationship.

He added that such screening would be completed by Tuesday so that the SBAC could make a recommendation to the entire Comelec whether Smartmatic passed all the bidding requirements and could be awarded the project.          – Sheila Crisostomo