MARGAO
The Congress has upped the ante against the government’s decision to rope in an event management company to celebrated Goa’s 60th Liberation Day Anniversary, with party district president claiming that the tender has already been fixed on instruction of a senior BJP leader.
South Goa district President Joe Dias said the tender is floated by the Department of Information and Publicity without any estimated cost. “How the Department of Finance gave approval to the said tender without estimated cost? Who prepared the Scope of Work and on what basis? Whether the government had constituted any committee to prepare the said Scope of Work and whether the Committee members had enough qualifications and expertise to prepare it? Joe questioned, while demanding that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant needs to answer these questions.
He said it is surprising that only those agencies who are empanelled with Tourism Department are eligible to participate in the tender. “Who gave the right to the government to deprive other agencies, particularly those who participate in IFFI tenders,” questioned Dias.
Saying that the tender notice issued by the Department of Information and Publicity has many ambiguities in the Scope of Work, which will allow the contractor to quote exorbitant rates, he said these ambiguities are deliberately kept in order to facilitate the particular agency.
The last date for submission of tender including technical bid, financial bid as well as the creative presentation is kept on 15th December, 2020. “How can the government decide on Technical Bids and Creative Presentation on a single day and also open the Financial Bid on the same day,” questioned Joseph Dias.
“It is loud and clear that the particular tender is already fixed, as it is practically impossible for any agency to do production of various creative items and venue constructs in just three days from the date of selection. Will the government bypass all the procedure and issue the work order to the selected agency on the same day,” Dias asked.
The Congress reiterated its demand that the tender must be scrapped and all the programmes should be done with the involvement of only Goan artists and cultural groups.
