Kohima, August 23 (MExN): The Kohima District Congress Committee (KDCC) has demanded that the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) issued by the Nagaland Education Mission Society, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, published in local dailies on August 18, be awarded to the lowest bidder.
While expressing delight at the notice for “Strengthening of 57 Government Schools in various districts of Nagaland”, KDCC made known its apprehensions with the 23 terms and conditions for the bidders/contractors issued by the State Mission Director RMSA, which has not been published in the newspapers, except the tender fee, date for bidding and last date for submission and date for opening the bid.
Citing Sl. No 12 of the terms and condition, which states that “Acceptance of the lowest tender is not obligatory”, the KDCC maintained that such a clause will encourage manipulation and favouritism while the actual lowest bidder will not win the tender and the Department will utilize the said clause in choosing its own favoured contractor. “Moreover, a Class-I contractor will certainly not quote lower rate and incur lost to do the work,” it insisted. Warning that it will be compelled to initiate further course of action even after the contract is awarded, KDCC urged the concern authority to remove the said clause and also demanded that the tender be awarded to the lowest bidder.
Meanwhile, KDCC also extended its appreciation to the Nagaland Contractors’ and Suppliers Union for standing firm on ‘Open Tender System’ to deliver quality works. “Unless manipulation and favouritism with commissions for those on the helm of affairs is stopped development and progress of our state will always remain at stake,” it stated.
