MANILA: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to hold a second round of bidding for the 2025 poll automation project in January 2024.
Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) is planning to hold the activity next month for the PHP18.8 billion project.
“Under the rules, after this failed bidding, the SBAC is mandated to conduct mandatory review, afterwhich we are already proceeding to the 2nd (bidding) cycle,” he said in a message to reporters on Friday.
“Once we have posted notices, we will probably have the bid opening by the first week of January, most likely by January 4, 2024,” Laudiangco added.
On Thursday, the Comelec Committee has declared failure of bidding for the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) project.
It declared the Joint Venture of Miru Systems Co Ltd, Integrated Computer Systems, St. Timothy Construction Corporation, and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies, Inc. (MIRU-ICS-STCC-CPSTI) as ineligible.
Laudiangco noted that the early setting of 2nd public bidding is connected to their timeline in preparing for the next elections.
“Time is of the essence that’s why we are moving fast with the mandatory review,” he said.
“Unless the Commission en banc cancels the procurement project altogether, the work of the SBAC will just continue,” he added.
Laudiangco said they will follow the provisions of Republic Act 9184, in case there is no bid winner or the 2nd bidding cycle also fails.
“After two failure of biddings, the Comelec may resort to alternative methods of procurement,” he said.
Source: Philippines News Agency