Lowest bid for 68 fire trucks ignored by BFP

 From: manilastandardtoday.com

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino yesterday questioned the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for the non-awarding of a contract for 68 fire trucks worth P301 million to the winning bidder despite its request for more money to buy 76 additional fire trucks  next year.

Casiño said the P301 million was way below the BFP’s projected price of P416 million, resulting in savings of P115 million.

Kolonwel won the bidding for the fire trucks in November last year but the bureau has yet to award the contract, Casiño said. He said the fire trucks should have been delivered in March this year.

On August 1, Casiño said, the BFP’s Legal Service under Director Jesus Doque IV issued a memo to then BFP officer-in-charge Samuel Perez upholding the decision of the agency’s bids and awards committee to grant the contract to the lowest winning bidder.

“To date, however, no action has been taken by the BFP,” he said.

Casiño said Perez, who had opposed the granting of the contract, has been suspended by the Ombudsman.

“The BFP sought some P380 million or P5 million each for 76 additional fire trucks during the plenary deliberation on the bureau’s request for appropriation for firefighting equipment and gear totaling P1.39 billion,” Casiño said,

But the BFP should first award the contract for the 68 fire trucks before it asks for more money for the additional 76, Casino added, ###