Smartmatic seeks reversal of disqualification from bidding

MANILA, Philippines - Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to nullify its earlier ruling disqualifying the company from the bidding for the supply of additional voting machines for the May 2016 general elections.

In a new petition, Smartmatic urged the Comelec’s bid and awards committee (BAC) to allow the firm to join the second stage of bidding for the lease of optical mark reader (OMR) and direct recording electronic (DRE) machines.    

Last month, the BAC disqualified Smartmatic and its rival bidder, Indra Sistemas S.A., from the bidding after BAC found that their financial proposals were “non-responsive.”

The committee set a second bidding this month for a P2.5-billion contract for the government to lease 23,000 OMR machines and 410 DRE units.

The BAC also junked a motion for reconsideration filed by Smartmatic.

But citing the dissenting opinions of BAC members Divina Blas-Perez and Charlie Yap, Smartmatic said the commission should overrule the BAC decision.

Yap noted that Smartmartic is offering free services to the government and should not be allowed to participate in the bidding.