{"id":23162,"date":"2022-07-21T22:25:27","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T03:25:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev?p=23162"},"modified":"2022-07-21T14:58:03","modified_gmt":"2022-07-21T19:58:03","slug":"a-tender-issue-with-public-procurement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/a-tender-issue-with-public-procurement\/","title":{"rendered":"A tender issue with public procurement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trinidad and Tobago<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The issues that have arisen in relation to the tendering system of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott) highlight the sensitive nature of public procurement and the need for all stakeholders to feel confident in whatever systems are adopted.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal called on Udecott to quash the bidding process for the Port of Spain General Hospital\u2019s central block. He cited reports that while two contractors had submitted bids through an e-tender platform, a third contractor was allowed into the process seemingly after the fact. He cast no aspersions on any party but placed emphasis on the implications of a glitch in the system.<\/p>\n

The next day, Udecott stated there was an explanation for the discrepancy. It said after it opened the \u201ce-tender box\u201d on May 20, it made checks of server logs which showed three, not two, receipts were issued.<\/p>\n

\u201cUdecott immediately contacted the owner and manager of the e-tender software, the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), to explain this discrepancy,\u201d the company said. TSTT said the issue was caused by \u201ca temporary disruption in internet connectivity\u201d on the vendor\u2019s end with its service provider.<\/p>\n

While Udecott alerted all three companies as to the situation, none of this could have been of comfort to any.<\/p>\n

This is more so given that this is a small society in which fears of collusion are stoked by a relatively poor history of legislative oversight. Public procurement laws, when they do get passed, remain stymied through only partial or tokenistic implementation.<\/p>\n

Udecott assures there were no amendments to any of the bids and feels its procurement process is consistent with good governance.<\/p>\n

But the company cannot be satisfied that it had to take the unusual steps which it took to address the discrepancy or the fact that the discrepancy arose in the first place.<\/p>\n

This is especially so given that this $1.1 billion project is already a controversial one with lingering questions over cost price inflation, the role of consultants and the departure of the initial contractor.<\/p>\n

No company can have any confidence in online systems that appear susceptible to such glitches or, worse, vulnerable to interference. Such weaknesses can only serve to increase suspicion and, rather unfairly, reduce the credibility of the professionals administering these systems.<\/p>\n

Udecott has stated no changes to any of the bids were made. But that is not the full extent of the matter.<\/p>\n

Another potential issue is the degree of interaction between Udecott and TSTT in a situation in which contractors may fear there is a perceived risk \u2013 however unfounded \u2013 of company officials skewering the system in a particular way.<\/p>\n

This is not to cast any aspersions on any party but to point to the ways in which even the smallest of errors can open the door to many more questions.<\/p>\n

The irony is Udecott might have been better off going the old-fashioned way of having a box in its lobby. Until the e-tender system is buttressed, it may well be advised to revert to that methodology for future bids.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

more<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

image: pexels-alex-green<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Trinidad and Tobago \u00a0 The issues that have arisen in relation to the tendering system of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott) highlight the sensitive nature of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1091,"featured_media":23163,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[250],"tags":[125,137],"class_list":["post-23162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-articles","tag-public-procurement","tag-trinidad-and-tobago"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/pexels-alex-green-5700186-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6u9Qa-61A","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23159,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/jcc-to-government-stop-procrastinating-on-office-of-procurement-regulator\/","url_meta":{"origin":23162,"position":0},"title":"JCC to Government \u2013Stop procrastinating on Office of Procurement Regulator","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"July 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago \u00a0 THE Joint Consultative Council for the Construction Industry (JCC) has responded to the alleged tender glitch for Udecott\u2019s e-tendering submissions for the Port of Spain General Hospital Central Block project. In a statement on the tender glitch, JCC president Fazir Khan called on the Government to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/warning-sign-g8334f4074_1920-e1658434711920.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/warning-sign-g8334f4074_1920-e1658434711920.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/warning-sign-g8334f4074_1920-e1658434711920.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/warning-sign-g8334f4074_1920-e1658434711920.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23154,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/udecott-clarifies-e-tender-glitch\/","url_meta":{"origin":23162,"position":1},"title":"UDeCOTT clarifies e-tender glitch","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"July 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago THE Urban Development Corporation of T&T (UDeCOTT) yesterday defended its e-tendering submissions for the redevelopment of the Port of Spain General Hospital Central Block project and states that no amendments to submissions were made to any of three proponents. It was reported in a daily newspaper over\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1024px-Vw_engine_check-Wikimedia-Commons.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1024px-Vw_engine_check-Wikimedia-Commons.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1024px-Vw_engine_check-Wikimedia-Commons.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1024px-Vw_engine_check-Wikimedia-Commons.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23165,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/moonilal-wants-probe-into-posgh-contract-bid\/","url_meta":{"origin":23162,"position":2},"title":"Moonilal wants probe into PoSGH contract bid","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"July 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago \u00a0 Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal believes a technical glitch which caused the Urban Development Corporation (UDECOTT) e-tender platform to introduce a third bidder on the Port-of-Spain General Hospital Central Block project, days after the bidding was closed, should be immediately investigated, as the matter points\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Buildings-construction-cranes-Juhasz-Imre-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Buildings-construction-cranes-Juhasz-Imre-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Buildings-construction-cranes-Juhasz-Imre-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Buildings-construction-cranes-Juhasz-Imre-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26647,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/udecott-to-build-new-headquarters\/","url_meta":{"origin":23162,"position":3},"title":"UDeCOTT to build new headquarters","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"March 2, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago Construction of a new flagship building for the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) is expected to commence in the third quarter of this year but at least one expert is warning it\u2019s a waste of money and another grandiose project. The new location of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pexels-yury-kim-585419-scaled-e1660863650934.jpg?fit=1024%2C581&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pexels-yury-kim-585419-scaled-e1660863650934.jpg?fit=1024%2C581&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pexels-yury-kim-585419-scaled-e1660863650934.jpg?fit=1024%2C581&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/pexels-yury-kim-585419-scaled-e1660863650934.jpg?fit=1024%2C581&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23152,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/fiddling-while-rome-burns\/","url_meta":{"origin":23162,"position":4},"title":"Fiddling while Rome burns","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"July 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago If the Government would stop procrastinating and \u00adfully operationalise the Office of the Procurement Regu\u00adlator, there would be independent oversight of the tender process for all these special-purpose companies spending public money. This includes UdeCOTT with its dubious Calder Hart history. 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