ENGINEERS OF the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) are reported as tampering with the tender bid process.
A reliable source close to Honiara labour based contactors revealed to this paper this week that engineers at MID involving in awarding of contract retain some percentage of the contract payment.
“Prior arrangement are being made between the engineers and the contractors before the tenders were put out.
“They already know who is to be given the jobs before the tenders processed,” the informant said.
The source also claimed that contractors are not really concern about the quality of work but they are only after the money.
He said engineers make recommendations favouring contractors with whom they have had prior arrangements with; they also receive part of the contract imbursement.
He allegedly pointed out that tender documents do not clearly spell out the amount of work contained in the Contract.
He also claimed that administration is not properly done.
“Many times the scope of the work is not clearly specified” he said.
“It end up with the MID engineers’ partners and friends getting the jobs.
“When jobs are not yet completed they ask for variations. Sometimes this variation brings up the final amount which is more than the loosing tenders.
“Also engineers from MID need to be investigated for their activities, some of them are showing signs of big spending that normal salaries cannot afford,” he pointed out.
The complainant suggested that certificate for payment of claims by the contractors must be approved by independent work inspectors.
“This will be the fairest way to give out jobs so that it does not look like a club belonging to a few corrupt people only,” he said.
Island Sun has been seeking clarifications from the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary and Communication Officer since Tuesday.
Both of whom have failed to respond to our queries.
The post MID engineers alleged of rigging tender bids appeared first on Islandsun Daily News.