Guardian Media Reports TT$165,920 in Procurement Legal-Cost Awards

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The disputes were procurement challenges before hearing panels appointed by the Office of Procurement Regulation, according to Guardian Media. Suppliers contested the way bids were assessed; the resulting costs awards help cover their legal expenses. They are not payments for the contracts themselves.

Sources: Guardian Media / CNC3, 31 Oct, 9:03 p.m. Trinidad time ↗

The earliest reported order, in April, required Paria Fuel Trading to pay Amalgamated Security Services TT$36,383.33 after using undisclosed price bands in a marine-security tender. In August, T&TEC was ordered to pay Jian Enterprises TT$42,337.50 and terminate a surveillance-system procurement. The report says the panel found an undisclosed evaluation method, but insufficient evidence of alleged bias.

Sources: Guardian Media / CNC3, 31 Oct, 9:03 p.m. Trinidad time ↗

In September, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation was ordered to terminate an inspection-sticker procurement and pay JABCO TT$43,100. Guardian Media says evaluators had not combined the advertised technical and price scores; the decision did not establish that JABCO should automatically receive the contract.

Sources: Guardian Media / CNC3, 31 Oct, 9:03 p.m. Trinidad time ↗

In October, a panel ordered the Tobago Regional Health Authority to pay J.M. Mercedes Property Management, Consultancy and Contracting Services TT$44,100 over a quality-management consultancy tender. The newspaper says the published order lacked detailed reasons, so the precise breach should not be assumed to match the other cases.

Sources: Guardian Media / CNC3, 31 Oct, 9:03 p.m. Trinidad time ↗

The four amounts total TT$165,920.83 in awarded legal costs. The report does not establish that all were paid, that they were fines, or that corruption was proved.

Sources: Guardian Media / CNC3, 31 Oct, 9:03 p.m. Trinidad time ↗