Builders upset at irregularities in tander process
Builders upset at irregularities in tander process
JAKARTA (JP): Building contractors are complaining about rampant irregularities in the process of tendering government projects.
Daniel Hutapea, chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Association of Indonesian Building Contractors, cited the Ministry of Public Works as one of the institutions where the bidding process is most often rigged.
Hutapea was quoted yesterday by the Antara news agency as saying that officials in charge of tendering projects always seem able to find loopholes for gaining personal benefit from project tendering.
"Officials in charge of tendering government projects often collude with particular bidders even though presidential decrees No. 16/1994 and No. 24/1995 set out clear-cut rules on the way government contracts should be awarded," Hutapea pointed out.
He said collusion often occurred due to a provision in Presidential Decree No. 16/1994 which stipulates that officials in charge of tendering government projects may issue special rulings if they deem it necessary.
Almost 50 percent of the allegations of corruption made against Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto recently involved irregularities in the tendering of projects and the rigged evaluation of bids.
State Secretary/Minister Moerdiono, who announced the conclusion of government investigations into the allegations early this week, confirmed that irregularities have occurred in the tendering of projects and the awarding of contracts for jobs under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation.
The government considered the irregularities only administrative weakness and not violations of state rulings on the tendering of government projects.
Hutapea said officials in charge of tendering projects often set requirements which bidders view as odd and extremely unreasonable.
"For example, the tender committee for particular projects requires bidders to have their bidding documents signed by the local administration chief," he said.
The problem occurs when this requirement is stated only one day before the bidding deadline.
Hutapea complained that the address of the tender committee was sometimes made unclear so as to mislead potential bidders.
"Sometimes, project tender notices are announced through very small newspaper advertisements so most contractors are often not aware of the projects being tendered," he added.
He said the government should make more concerted efforts to minimize irregularities in the tendering process for projects because the bidding results affect the quality of project implementation. (vin)