With several infrastructure projects getting delayed allegedly because of the new request-for-qualification (RFQ) norms that require ministries and departments to shortlist only the top six bidders before calling for financial bids, the Planning Commission has stepped in to demonstrate how tricky issues can be sorted out while awarding contracts in a transparent and speedy fashion.

“To expedite the evaluation process, it was decided in a recent meeting that the Planning Commission would handle award of five road projects right from the RFQ stage,” said Brahm Dutt, secretary, road transport and highways. Advisor to deputy chairman of Planning Commission, Gajendra Haldea, who helped conceive the new RFQ norms, himself got into the act.

Between July 12 and July 20, RFQ documents submitted by applicants for 10 projects were evaluated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and appointed consultants in the presence of Haldea and the director general (road development).

“There were many problems in the evaluation of the RFQ — particularly relating to the format in which documents were to be submitted. For instance, many applicants had not submitted their RFQs in a hard-bound cover which was a pre-requisite.

Others had provided supporting documents and certificates that had all requisite details but were not as per the format prescribed in the model RFQ and thus, disqualified. The Planning Commission has advised how and when relaxations can be made,” a source present during the evaluation meetings said.

While the model RFQ is aimed at ensuring that only serious bidders with a proven track record bag projects, most ministries found it cumbersome.

... contd.