The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) on Monday in principle, decided not to entertain bids offered/received from non-prequalified suppliers for all its future purchases aimed to make serious efforts for the commodity operation. TCP has also announced to extend its Board of Directors from 5 to 10 including private sector to make it more responsive and to regularise all its employees working at TCP for five years.
TCP board, which met on Monday at TCP head office, chaired by new Chairman S Anjum Bashir, took these decisions following delay in sugar import due to the non-serious attitude of bidders. The TCP board under the new chairman decided to entertain bids/offers only from prequalified suppliers for all its future purchases.
Sources said that TCP has issued two sugar import tenders of 400,000 tons and one urea tender for the import of 50,000 tons and these tenders. With current decision, it is likely that TCP may issue a corrigendum for these tenders by inviting bids/offers only from pre-qualified suppliers.
Seventh sugar import tender for the import of 200,000 tons of sugar is scheduled to be opened on April 17, 2010 and eighth sugar import tender will open on May 8, 2010. With the new steps TCP will get bids from genuine suppliers for commodity operation and non-pre-qualified bidders, which want to participate in the bids, would be registered with the Corporation, as the board has also announced to initiate pre-qualification process, sources added.
"In order to ensure strict adherence to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Rules and to maintain complete transparency in commodity operational activities, henceforth, all bids will be invited only from pre-qualified suppliers for all procurements/services," TCP's announcement issued after the board meeting said.
The Board further decided that the process of pre-qualification of suppliers of different commodities will remain open at all times and any interested party can enlist with the TCP to ensure maximum participation by suppliers. A public notice inviting applications from interested parties shall be issued soon.
In pursuance of Cabinet decision for restructuring of state enterprises, TCP Board has decided to enlarge its current composition from 5 to 10 including private sector to make it more responsive and convert into policy Board. The Board, considering other agenda items, also decided to regularise all its contingent employees (staff cadre) who have completed five years continuous stay in TCP. This was decided in the light of the government's desire of regularising services of all temporary/contingent employees.