ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a new online bidding procedure to purchase goods digitally from Customs Department through the system of electronic auction (E-Auction) of overstayed or confiscated/seized goods.
The FBR has issued a notification to issue amendments in the Customs Rules 2001, here on Thursday. Under the new rules, the FBR will establish an e-auction portal for the bidders.
The 'bid' means price offered at e-auction portal for the goods to auction separately or in lots or in a combination of lots by a bidder registered with the customs computerised system.
The role of goods' custodian revealed that the system shall register the custodian, who will feed information with reference to auctionable goods in the e-auction module, and provide the following functionality in the system.
According to the new procedure for the bidders of overstayed goods, there would be e-registration of the bidders. Any person holding a valid CNIC or NICOP may get himself registered as a bidder by submitting the online form available at e-auction portal against prescribed fee for registration processing.
The system will be displaying the highest bid each time on receipt of higher bid. After the completion of bidding time of 72 hours, the highest bids/offers received against the reserved price will be processed for approval or rejection by the concerned assistant or deputy collector (auction) or the additional collector (auction) as per laid down criteria, the FBR stated.
The bids received will be considered by the assistant or deputy collector (auction) within next 72 hours' time to accept or reject the same. All cases, where no decision is taken within the stipulated time, the same shall be assigned to the additional collector (auction) for a decision.
If the successful bidder does not deposit the payable amount within 72 hours, the system shall select the second highest bid and mark the same to the assistant or deputy collector (auction) or the additional collector for a decision within the time stipulated.
The assistant and deputy collector (auction) shall have the authority to send the goods under auction for re-examination or/and revision of reserved price. If no bid is received against a lot in five subsequent auction (Unique Auction Lot Number), then the auctionable goods may either be marked for re-auction or revision of reserved price by the authorised officer.
In case of non-payments by a successful bidder after the approval of the bid by the authority, the system shall disable the user-ID and the CNIC for a period of two years.
The collector may cancel the whole proceeding of an auction without assigning any reason; recall the proceedings and recover the goods even after delivery of goods, if it is proved that there has been a deliberate attempt to cause loss to the public exchequer; restrict or refuse the entry of persons to the premises where an auction is held or their taking part in the auction; can disallow or deregister the User ID of the bidder through e-portal on reasonable grounds and collector can put the auction of certain goods/vehicles on hold in case of order from any court, the FBR added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020