MARGAO
The United Goans Foundation (UGF) has demanded a Vigilance inquiry and the suspension of a tender for the Comprehensive Online Web-Based Disaster Management Plan of the Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services, alleging that procurement rules were violated to favour a Uttar Pradesh-based company.
UGF Secretary Dominick Noronha claimed RTI records show the Directorate completed the technical evaluation, rejected Telecon Systems Ltd. of Uttar Pradesh, opened the financial bids and declared Goa-based Technotrix as the lowest (L-1) bidder. He alleged that officials later reopened the technical evaluation, revived the previously rejected company and eventually awarded it the contract. “Once financial bids are opened and the lowest bidder is identified, the technical evaluation cannot be reopened. If there was an error, the only legal option was to cancel the tender and issue a fresh one,” Noronha said.
He alleged the move violated the General Financial Rules and Central Vigilance Commission guidelines, raising questions of possible favouritism. UGF also questioned why a key disaster management project requiring continuous local support was taken away from a qualified Goan company.
The Foundation has urged the Government to put the tender on hold, order a Vigilance inquiry, fix responsibility for the alleged procedural violations and, if necessary, cancel the tender and invite fresh bids.
