AVINASH AZAD
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, July 23: Apparently in an attempt to give benefits to favorite contactors, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Rajouri has asked the contractor for submission of tender papers manually, despite e-tenders for fencing works in various forest ranges falling under the division.
However, the decision to manually file the tender documents may jeopardize the process since the district administration had imposed complete lockdown in the city in wake of spike in Corona cases in the last few days.
In the month of June and July, various divisions of the Forest Department of Jammu province called e-tenders for fencing works, but none of tender inviting authority, except DFO Rajouri asked the contactors for submission of documents manually, said a contractor, who has participated in the bid.
“DFO Rajouri is defeating the purpose of e-tendering, apparently to give benefits to some favourite contactors, have added the condition, despite being aware that Rajouri town at time of last date, was declared as red-zone, and lockdown was in place. How, someone risks his/her life to personally visit the red-zone, once you have submitted tenders on-line as per established procedure being followed by all other departments”, he added.
“Bidders must ensure to upload scanned copies of all necessary documents i.e. CDR, PAN, TIN, Demand Draft, Registration Card and hard copies of all these documents should also reach to the office of Divisional Forest Officer, Rajouri on 20.07.2020 upto 03.30 PM. No registered post/courier will be Accepted”, clause 9 of e-NIT No 02 of 2020-21 dated 06-07-2020 read.
The contractor said that tenders for same works were also invited by the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Agrostology Wing, Jammu. “Bidders must ensure to upload scanned copies of all necessary documents i.e CDR,PAN,TIN/GST No. Treasury Receipt, Registration Card and hard copies of all these documents of L1 bidder should reach the office Deputy Conservator of Forests, Agrostology Wing, Forest Department, Sidhra Jammu within 05 days after opening of financial bid. No registered post/courier will be accepted”, clause-10 of e-NIT No. 21 of 2020-21 dated 21-07-2020, read.
The contractor further showed tenders form issued by the Divisional Forest Officer, Nowshera Forest Division, no such condition was imposed when tenders were invited on June 26, 2020 for the same works. “Bidders must ensure to upload scanned copies of all necessary documents i.e CDR,PAN,TIN/GST No. Treasury Receipt, Registration Card and hard copies of all these documents of L1 bidder should reach the office Divisional Forest Officer Nowshera within 05 days after opening of financial bid. No registered post/courier will be accepted”, clause-11 of e-NIT No. 03 of 2020-21 dated 27-06-2020, issued by Divisional Forest Officer, Nowshera read.
DFO Rajouri, Sanjay Gupta when contacted said the no tender would be rejected, in case the hardcopies of tenders forms are not received. “We are waiting for the technical sanction (TS) for the works, as and when we get the same the financial bids of e-tenders will be opened”, he added. |
