KARACHI: Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has issued two tenders for the import of some 1.5 million tonnes wheat and 0.3 million tonne sugar on an urgent basis to avoid shortage in the domestic market and control the soaring prices of essential commodities. As the prices of wheat and sugar are on the rise in the domestic market, the federal government has decided immediate import of both commodities. In order to ensure the immediate and timely import of the commodities, the federal government has also granted special relaxation to TCP in Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Rule.
As per the PPRA Rule 13, the procuring agency may decide the response time for receipt of bids or proposals (including proposals for pre-qualification) from the date of publication of an advertisement or notice, keeping in view the individual procurement's complexity, availability and urgency. However, under no circumstances the response time shall be less than fifteen [days] for national competitive bidding and thirty [days] for international competitive bidding from the date of publication of advertisement or notice.
Accordingly, following the federal government directives and getting special relaxation, TCP has issued two international tenders for the import of wheat and sugar with ten days response time.
According to tenders details, available to Business Recorder, TCP has invited sealed bids from the international sugar suppliers and manufacturers for supply of 300,000 metric tonnes white sugar (bugged cargo) through their local offices or representatives (registered with provincial/federal tax authorities) having capacity to supply 'White Sugar' through worldwide sources. The interested parties can submit the bid prepared in accordance with the tender documents on or before August 18, 2020 latest by 1100 hours. Bids will be opened on the same day at 1130 hours in the TCP's Board Room, in presence of the bidders or their authorised representatives.
White Sugar (bagged carp) to be supplied will be strictly in accordance with the standards and specifications prescribed by Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).
Bids less than 50,000 metric tonnes in either mode of supply will not be accepted. Total quantity of White Sugar must reach the designated ports/destination in Pakistan according to the shipment schedule given in the tender document.
The wheat import tender of 1.5 million will also be opened on the same day i.e. August 18, 2020 at 1500 hours with ten days response time. Interested parties can submit bids for a minimum quantity of 0.2 million metric tonnes.
According to TCP, The interested parties who have previously not fulfilled their contractual obligations with TO' will not be eligible to participate in the bids, unless they clear their dues along with penalties or fulfil their contractual obligations in services and commodities with TCP, as the case may be, before tender opening date.
Furthermore, those firms against which black listing procedures have been initiated by TO' shall not be eligible to participate in the tender. Detailed specifications/requirements for wheat and sugar import are indicated in the Tender Document containing tender terms & conditions. A Pre-Bid meeting with interested parties will be held on August 13, 2020 to discuss issues related to the tenders.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020