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Central Bank’s CCTV tender challenged as being biased
View(s):The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) last week denied the allegations of a company participating in a CCTV tender, that the pre-qualification criteria had been designed to favour a pre-selected entity.
Akro (Pvt) Ltd, which has done maintenance of the CBSL’s CCTV system for a decade, said it had written to the Regulator, complaining that guidelines for the relevant tender, drafted by a private consultant, are “discriminatory and inconsistent with the overall objective of the desired services”.
The proposed contract is for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of an Internet Protocol (IP) Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) system for CBSL. Akro said it believes the criteria “has been designed to eliminate specifically dedicated commercial entities from competing on an equal platform and instead, grant the tender to a selected entity, upon elimination of viable competitors”.
Akro alleged that many Sri Lankan commercial entities that possess the required technical knowledge, product skill and expertise are immediately disqualified because of the pre-qualification requirements stipulated in the pre-qualification document. However, the CBSL said this week, it had not received such a letter, until it inquired after it from the company. The complaint was then received on May 22, 2018, and not April 10, the date Akro said it had been sent.
“The CBSL engaged a consultant to advise on the procurement of a CCTC system” the Regulator said this week. “A Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) and a Tender Board (TB) comprising senior CBSL officials was also set up. The pre-qualification requirements proposed by the Consultant for the pre-qualification documents, were reviewed by the TEC and TB at two stages and modified.”
“The minimum financial strength and experience that should be possessed by prospective entities to undertake the proposed project, were adjusted to enhance the competitiveness of the tender, by both TEC and the TB,” it maintained.
Akro also said pre-qualification was open only to local contractors and firms. CBSL replied that this requirement was set due to the concerns of CBSL with regard to the appropriate post-installation service and maintenance requirements of the CCTV system.
“Further, there are many local entities that possess the required strength and experience to undertake the installation and subsequent service and maintenance of the proposed CCTV system” it said.