The tender to deliver computers for schools worth PLN 230m (EUR 59.34m) is about to end. The Ministry of Education (MEN) has finally received the offers. In the process divided into five regional parts, there were eight companies ready to deliver the equipment, including consortia built of several firms. The consortium of Incom and Softbank Serwis, a subsidiary of listed Asseco Poland presented the lower offers in all regions. It was a surprise because earlier when the offers were opened, totally different prices were presented.
“The companies offered the total costs in a file but the price of a single set multiplied by their number will be evaluated. As far as the offer of Incom and Softbank Serwis is concerned, the price is lower than the one presented when the offers were opened. That’s why these companies are the first ones in all the parts of the tender”, representative of one of the companies taking part in the process explains.
This would mean that the winning consortium made a mistake when summing up the costs in the joint file.
Rivals are going to appeal. Meanwhile, MEN would like to conclude the tender in the first half of this year. Otherwise, the ministry may lose EU funds, which should cover 75 percent of the project. It is very improbable, however, that there is enough time.
“Protests should be expected. Even with no protests, the Office of Public Procurement will control the tender for two more weeks. Meanwhile, there are 70 days for the project so contracts would have to be signed in the middle of April at the latest in order to deliver the equipment till the end of June. It’s impossible”, representative of one of the companies taking part in the tender believes.
(PLN 1 = EUR 0.258)