Protest Over

Published 7th December 2007, 11:57am

OBM, an architectural firm that had protested a Central Tenders Committee (CTC) decision to award an architectural and engineering services contract to a competing company, has withdrawn the objections after acknowledging technical errors in its bid.

After examining six tenders in mid-October, CTC awarded the Burns Conolly Group and an overseas consulting firm, Spillis Candela, a $2.26 million contract for work on a new Grand Court building. However, OBM objected, claiming its bid was $1 million lower and that it should have won the contract.

After OBM submitted an official complaint to CTC, committee members reviewed the decision - as is the norm in such circumstances.

After careful scrutiny of the procedure used, and of its reasons for selecting the bid winner, CTC informed OBM that it was sticking by the original decision. But, responding to a further expression of disappointment by the company, CTC invited OBM to discuss the issue.

Subsequently, at a meeting on Tuesday, 4 December, OBM Architectural Manager Jonathan Jackson withdrew the complaint, acknowledging that technical oversights in the company's application caused its bid to be unsuccessful.

"OBM will continue to participate in the tendering process, and look forward to the continuation of fair results of which the CTC prides itself on," Mr Jackson said in a letter sent after the meeting confirming his company's abandonment of the complaint.

Also at the meeting were CTC Chairman Terrence Outar; the Ministry of Planning's project evaluation representatives, Jim Scott and Martin Tedd; and CTC Secretary Daun Alleyne.

Mr Scott explained that it would have been unfair to the other bidders who followed procedure if the areas of submission where OBM erred were considered along with those of the other tenderers.

Mr Outar explained that tenders were graded on a scale of 100 points, with a maximum of 35 points for cost proposals, and 65 points for technical submissions. He said that by submitting the second lowest bid, OBM scored the second highest in that area at 34 points. However, the technical shortcomings caused it to fall behind in the competition.

He said that the company's omissions may have also influenced its low bidding price. "There were certain details missing. Had they been included, OBM's price would most likely have gone up."

The courts building will be in George Town, between Crewe Road, Lynhurst Road, and Agnes Way.

CTC members extend their condolences to the OBM organisation on the passing of their Chief Executive Officer William Bissell on 1 December. CTC noted that one of the many outstanding legacies of Mr Bissell was the Caribbean flair he brought to modern architectural designs.