DOTr bidding processes go digital

FILE: Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade (Photo: Arthur Planta Tugade/Facebook)

MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will now require its bidders to file electronically their procurement-related documents as part of efforts to use modern technology to promote efficiency and transparency in its bidding processes.

The initiative seeks to automate the processes of procurement under the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Act.

“To encourage participation of bidders, it is imperative that the bidding process of the department be made amenable to the advances in modern technology,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said through Department Order No. ‎2017-017.

All remaining procurement processes other than the submission of bids, pre-bidding, the opening of bids, and conduct of post-qualification will now be processed online.

Written communications and correspondences in procurement activities shall be coursed through the DOTr’s official email account that would be set up by the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Secretariat.

During the Pre-Bid Conference, bidders are required to register their respective business email addresses or that of their authorized representatives, their procurement-related communications, and correspondences, including Requests for Clarification, Request for the Signing of Contract, and Request to Submit Performance Bond.

Notices, such as BAC Meetings, Single/Lowest Calculated Bidder, Submission of Post-Qualification Documents, and Award of Contract, and Notice to Proceed shall be coursed through the BAC email.

The BAC Secretariat and Procurement divisions of the Procurement Service will monitor the strict implementation of the guidelines.

All procurement activities that have started prior to the issue of the guidelines shall continue with the manual filing procedure. (Aerol John Pateña /PNA)