Tarbela project: Transparency objects to changing bidder status

TIP declares the bid of Sinohydro unresponsive as it did not include the details of guaranteed head losses.

KARACHI:

The status of a bidder in the tender for development works at Tarbela Hydropower project was changed against rules and regulations Transparency International Pakistan (TIP) said.

TIP has received a complaint on change of a non-responsive bid to responsive bid in tender for Tarbela 4th Extension Hydropower Project, the wihstleblower said in a letter written to the Federal Minister of Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif.

TIP said that Wapda opened tenders for civil works of the project on June 4 and five bids were received from Yuksel Insaat Turkey, Dogus Insaat Turkey, Gazhouba China, Sinohydro China and DEC-HEC-KHN Korea.

The consultants evaluated the bids and declared three as un-responsive. The bid of Sinohydro was declared unresponsive for not including the details of guaranteed head losses.

Wapda, in its meeting on July 5, had accorded approval to Gezhouba China, being the lowest responsive bidder. However, Wapda changed the status of Sinohydro to ‘responsive’ and granted it the contract following an approval by the World Bank. Although, the World Bank official concerned wrote to Wapda that the authority should follow its rules stating, “We accept that they (Wapda) are the final authority on such matters and accept their position.”

TIP said that Sinohydro had not included guaranteed head losses in its offer and it could not amend the documents after opening of the bids.

TIP urged the minister to direct Wapda to follow the evaluation criteria.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2013.