PAB rejects BIA’s Aviation Refuelling Terminal tender
View(s):The latest tender called for the redevelopment and upgrading of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA)’s Aviation Refuelling Terminal and the existing Fuel Hydrant system has been cancelled following a recent decision taken by new Petroleum Resources Development Minister Arjuna Ranatunge.
The minister took the decision after considering a determination made by Sri Lanka’s Procurement Appeal Board (PAB) stating that it does not endorse the Cabinet Appointed Procurement Committee (CAPC) and Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) towards the tender to the Greek Company Metron Energy.
Fresh bids will be called to award the tender to the most suited lowest bidder with considerable experience in carrying out similar projects, a senior official of the ministry told Business Times
Some of the other bidders who objected to the tender being awarded to this Greek company on grounds that it was inexperienced in such work and didn’t meet the prescribed criteria set out in the tender announcement, had complained direct to the Presidential Secretariat and made an appeal to the Procurement Appeal Board.
As a result an inquiry was held at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo on February 18 this year and counsel for the complainants had made submissions challenging the authenticity of documents submitted by the Greek company to prove their eligibility to clinch the tender.
CPC trade unions also have brought to the notice of the authorities that the Greek Company Metron Energy has allegedly submitted forged documents to the (CAPC and TEC) to win the contract.
The company has misled both committees by submitting a completion certificate issued by a consultancy firm for fuel tank farm project in Athens airport.
An inquiry made from the Athens airport authorities revealed that this company was subcontractor of the joint venture comprised three Greek Companies which was given the contract to carry out the fuel tank farm project, one of the bidders said.
In a letter, the CEO of Aviation Fuel Services SA at Athens airport has stated that that Metron Energy was never involved in the project directly.