MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) on Thursday declared a failure of bidding for the acquisition of additional optical mark reader (OMR) machines for the May 2022 elections.
During the virtual opening of the bids, SBAC chairperson, lawyer Allen Francis Abaya announced the failure of bidding after the lone bidder SMMT-TIM Inc. did not submit its bid.
“Considering that there are no bids submitted in today’s opening of bids, the SBAC hereby declares a failure of bidding,” he said.
The service provider did not submit its bid, citing the higher cost of electronic components due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“We have given the procurement documents a thorough study, trying to find ways to comply with all the requirements within the approved budget. Unfortunately, we have determined that the budget is not sufficient to cover all of Comelec’s conditions stated in the TOR (Terms of Reference),” the firm said in a letter submitted to the committee.
“As stated in our letter of queries and appeal dated August 14th with reference number SMMT 2021S-0075, the pandemic has disrupted the global supply chain servicing the electronic sector resulting in huge backlogs in the manufacturing process…For these reasons, it is with deep regret that we inform you that we cannot participate in the bidding scheduled on September 9, 2021,” it added.
SMMT-TIM Inc. admitted that they are willing to provide its services and requested for the commission to revisit the budget for the project.
“We wish to affirm that SMARTMATIC is very much interested to participate in this endeavor if the budget allocation is adjusted as provided by the local procurement law to address these pandemic-caused cost increases,” read the letter signed by Filipinas Ordona, the company’s authorized representative.
Abaya said they will take note of the firm’s appeal.
“With that, SBAC takes note of the manifestation in the letter of the bidder. We will take that into consideration when we conduct the mandatory review,” he added.
The bidding is for the lease of OMR/OPSCAN Precinct Counter with secure digital (SD) cards. (PNA)
Source: Philippines News Agency
