- Project Coordinator assures bidders of transparency, level playing field
From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Seventy eight road construction companies have submitted bids for the construction of 13 rural roads totaling 65.10km being contracted by the World Bank co-sponsored Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
The state Project Coordinator, Hon. Sunday Adunmo, who disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state, at the bid opening exercise for Backlog Maintenance and Rehabilitation of the 13 rural roads, promised a level playing field for all bidders; reassuring that the evaluation process will be transparent and fair to all.
Adunmo who stressed that Ekiti RAAMP does not have a preferred contractor noted that the goal of RAAMP “is not only to select the most qualified contractor but also to uphold the integrity of the procurement process and safeguard the interests of Ekiti State and its citizens.”
The RAAMP Coordinator added that each bid would be carefully evaluated to ensure compliance with the specifications outlined in the tender documents.
“I want to assure all bidders present here today that the evaluation process will be conducted with the utmost transparency, fairness, and due diligence. Rest assured that we will provide a level playing field for all bidders. We have no preferred bidder but our preference is for any company that fulfils the conditions already stated in the advertisement and the bidding document. Our goal is not only to select the most qualified contractor but also to uphold the integrity of the procurement process and safeguard the interests of Ekiti State and its citizens. Each bid will therefore be carefully scrutinized to ensure compliance with the specifications outlined in the tender documents.”
He pointed out that the roads to be constructed are “not mere lines on a map but lifelines for farmers” and rural dwellers, noting that the provision of good road networks would encourage farmers to invest more time and resources in food production, especially as “the prices of food items have skyrocketed in the last few months.”
Adunmo who expressed satisfaction with the display of interest and commitment from the bidders said a pre-bid meeting was held to provide clarifications for the bidders on any identified grey areas.
The representative of Hirco Engineering and Craneburg Construction Ltd, Mr Babajide Ilori, who spoke on behalf of the bidders, commended Ekiti RAAMP for the transparent bid opening exercise, assuring that the bidders would abide by the outcome of the evaluation process.
In his remarks, a representative of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Engr Omoniyi Adebayo, hailed the Project for its 100% compliance with the procurement process; adding that this would make bidders repose confidence in the process.
Mr Tayo Fabunmi, the representative of the Civil Society Organisations(CSOs), also commended the process for being transparent and fair as two bidders who tried to submit after the stipulated time were disallowed based on the guidelines of the procurement process.
The bid opening exercise which lasted over five hours was done in seven different lots as advertised and was observed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry who doubles as the Chairman of the State Project Monitoring Committee, Engr Gbenga Odesanmi; the representatives of the Bureau of Public Procurement, and a Civil Society Organisation, CESFOD while representatives of the bidders were also in attendance