MANILA, Philippines - At least four companies are vying for a contract to warehouse the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines for the 2013 mid-term elections.
The Commission on Elections Special Bids and Awards Committee (Comelec-SBAC) held a pre-bid conference today with CTSI Logistics Philippines Incorporated and Smartmatic TIM, owner of the current warehouse in Cabuyao, Laguna and supplier of the PCOS machines.
Two other companies, Bodega Site and SSI Asia, were also allowed to participate after purchasing bidding documents for the contract for a warehouse with configuration facilities.
SBAC Chairman Helen Aguila Flores said the contract has an approved budget of P112 million.
They hope to open the bids at 10:00 a.m. on July 23 to determine the lowest calculated bid. They will then have seven days after the opening of bids to determine the lowest calculated bid and the responsiveness of the technical qualifications specified by the bid.
Flores said more companies have expressed interest to bid.
Flores said that while Smartmatic TIM is the owner of the current warehouse, it enjoys no special advantage.
The election automation law requires that the services for warehousing and configuration be bid out. The current contract with Smartmatic for the Cabuyao warehouse will expire by end-July.
Smartmatic has agreed to a one month extension.