The public is hereby notified that during the pre-bid conference held on September 13, 2006 relative to the above-stated public bidding, the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), in response to the following questions raised by prospective bidders, resolved as follows:
1. Considering that the accreditation of Ernest Printing Corporation as security printer of the National Printing Office (NPO) has been revoked by the latter -
1.a. May Ernest Printing Corporation participate in the September 25, 2006 public bidding?
Yes, because the letter of the National Printing Office dated May 12, 2006 speaks only of revocation of the accreditation of Ernest Printing Corporation as security printer of the NPO. What Republic Act No. 9184 prescribes as one of the valid grounds for declaring a prospective bidder ineligible from participating in a public bidding is that said bidder has been "blacklisted or barred from bidding by the Government or any of its agencies, offices, corporations or LGUs".
1.b. May Ernest Printing Corporation participate in future bidding by the Commission on Elections for accountable forms?
Since accountable forms are not the subject of the September 25, 2006 public bidding, the September 13, 2006 pre-bid conference is not the proper venue to raise the same. The BAC deferred action on the matter, and will release its resolution thereon at the appropriate time.
2. Are bidders previously accredited still required to submit new eligibility documents?
Yes, because changes in the current situation of an accredited bidder may have occurred that could materially downgrade the substance of the statements made by it in its previous eligibility documents. Since material downgrading may adversely affect a bidder's eligibility status, such fact must be immediately made known to the BAC.
3. Shall the computation of the Bid Security be based on the total amount of the bid, or on the total agency estimate?
The public bidding is on a "per-item" basis, and not "by lot". As such, bidders have the option to bid for any or all the items subject of the public bidding. The computation of the Bid Security is therefore based on the total amount of the bid, depending on the items that the bidder offers to supply, provided that the bid for any item shall not exceed the agency estimate indicated in the Bidder's Tender.
4. May the Bid Security be posted in a form other than cash or manager's check payable to the Commission on Elections?
No, because a Bid Security posted in any other form shall be considered invalid. Accordingly, any Bidder's Tender not covered by a valid Bid Security shall be considered as "NO BID".
5. What is the procedure during the opening of bids on September 25, 2006?
The Eligibility Documents and Bidder's Tender, which shall be placed inside separate sealed envelopes, shall be submitted together in one big envelope. After opening the big envelope, the first documents to be evaluated shall be those pertaining to the eligibility requirements. If all required eligibility documents have been submitted, the bidder shall be declared "eligible" and the envelope containing its Bidder's Tender shall be opened. In case of non-submission of any of the required eligibility documents, the bidder shall be declared "ineligible" and the envelope containing its Bidder's Tender shall be returned to it unopened. If necessary, the BAC may conduct post-qualification procedures in accordance with par. 3, Article II of the Terms, Conditions and Instructions to Bidders.
6. Is there any amendment to the Terms, Conditions and Instructions to Bidders?
Yes. Although the Terms, Conditions and Instructions to Bidders provide that paragraph 6, Article IV shall govern "multi-sourcing", the correct provision is paragraph 9, Article IV. Thus, the last sentence of paragraph 11, Article III of the Terms, Conditions and Instructions to Bidders is amended to read as follows: "However, in case all the bids for a particular item are partial, the Commission may multi-source or divide the award for said item subject to the conditions set forth in par. 9, Article IV hereunder".
7. Where and when shall the Bid Bulletin be issued?
This Bid Bulletin shall be released on Friday, September 15, 2006, and posted at the website of the Commission on Elections (www.comelec.gov.ph ), and at the Government Electronic Procurement System (G-EPS) bulletin board, if the latter's server is in service. Bidders who wish to secure hard copies of the bid bulletin may obtain the same from Ms. Amor M. Balbon, Head, BAC Secretariat, Property Division, Administrative Service Department, beginning at 1:00 o'clock p.m., September 15, 2006.
The public is further advised that the Terms, Conditions and Instructions to Bidders that have not been modified by this Bid Bulletin, and are not inconsistent herewith, shall remain in full force and effect.
September 14, 2006. |
