Call for probe on DepEd’s laptop procurement‘premature and unfair’ —DBM
THE PROCUREMENTService of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) said the call of a lawmaker to investigate the procurement of 39,000 laptops for publicschoolteachers is “premature and grossly unfair” because the bidding process is still ongoing.
“The bidding process is ongoing and no contract has been awarded. Thus, Rep.(Bernadette)Herrera-Dy’s call foraCongress probe is not only premature but grossly unfair. By prejudging the bidder selection process, she is in fact, trying to influence the final outcome of the PS-DBM’s procurement decision,”the agencysaid in a statement.
PS-DBM said it cannot release further information about the bidding since this is prohibitedunderexisting procurement rules.
Ms.Dy on Wednesday called on the lower chamber to look intowhat she tagged as a“questionable” procurement by the Department of Education (DepEd)of thelaptops.
Sheclaimed that the contract will likely be secured by the second-lowest bidder at P2.3 billion, higher thananother party’s offer ofP167 million.
PS-DBM saidexisting rules provide thatgovernment projects should be awarded to bidders with the lowest calculated responsive bid (LCRB), and not necessarily to the lowest bidder.
“The LCRB is defined by law as the lowest bid from a technically, legally, and financially capable supplier that is compliant with all the technical specifications as required and stated on the bidding documents,”it said.
“In light of these misinformed claims and allegation, PS-DBM urges Rep. Herrera-Dy to refrain from making premature remarks and to be enlightenedofthe procurement process.”— Beatrice M. Laforga
