There are several irregularities in awarding the tender for the relaying of the 400M track at the Sugathadasa Stadium.This has been brought to the notice of the Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage by Bandula Senaratne, Consultant of New Remini (Pvt.) Ltd.
Copies of a letter regarding the irregularities have been sent to the Sports Minister, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, The Secretary Ministry of Sports the Chairman National Procurement Committee as well.
The letter states that the tender has been awarded to the lowest bidder, namely Gahakola Landscaping. The letter goes on to say that this bidder would have been disqualified and not been short listed either as their principle did not have a Class 1 certificate issued by the IAAF at the time of the tender opening.
According to the tender conditions the manufacturer/installer should have done IAAF certified Class 1 and 2 certified tracks and even at present even though this principal has a Class 1 track certified by the IAAF issued only on November 29, 2011. This certificate however is without Steeplechase facility, and the Sugathadasa Stadium track has a Steeplechase or the ‘water jump’ facility for the 3000M and 5000M competitions.
The letter points out that if one goes through the tracks installed by this lowest bidder’s principal, it is very minute compared to other principals of the bidders who came forward for this tender.
Another very critical issue that we must highlight is the square area this lowest bidder has quoted for. According to the BOQ of the tender document, it mentions a total square area of 9500M2. Actually according to our survey the total square area of the 400M track is 7525M2.
The lowest bidder has quoted a price of SLR: 113, 213.715/-, and this gives a price per square meter at SLR: 11,917/- (SLR: 113, 213, 715/- divided by 9500M2), but the actual area is 752M2 and this lowest bidder must be paid only RLR: 89, 675, 425/- and not SLR: 113, 213, 715/-, Otherwise you are paying SLR: 23,536, 537/- for this access 1975M2.
The letter goes on to say that with all these irregularities, it is very unfair to award this tender to this lowest bidder at the price of 113, 215, 715/-, where as the actual amount should be SLR: 89, 675, 425/- and also this lowest bidder should have been disqualified as their principal did not have any IAAF certified Class 1 certificate at the time of opening the bids.
The Sports Ministry and Link Engineering were not available for comment at the time of going to press. |
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