MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — A joint venture led by Korean company Miru Systems Co., Ltd. is once again the lone bidder in the second round of bidding for the P18.827-billion contract for the 2025 automated election system on Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

The poll body's Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) said 6 companies bought bid documents: Dominion Voting Systems, AMA Group Holdings Corporation, Electiotech Consultant and Management, Inc., Indra Philippines, Inc., SMMT-TIM 2016, Inc., and Miru Systems.

However, only the joint venture of Miru submitted a bid for the lease of the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC).

• Watchdog urges thorough background check of Korean firm bidding for AES deal

Miru was declared eligible later in the day after an examination of its legal documents.

The said bid underwent checks on legal and financial documents.

“Ang kasunod na po nito ay ‘yung pagbibigay sa kanya ng notice of post qualification evaluation kung saan sisimulan na po na i-evaluate ng SBAC at TWG (Technical Working Group), alin? Lahat po ng dokumento na na-submit kanina,” COMELEC Spokesperson and Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) Vice Chair Atty. John Rex Laudiangco said.

“‘Yung mga permits, totoo ba ‘yan? Validly issued? Complied ba lahat?…Makakapag-comply ba sila sa hinihinging technical specifications ng COMELEC? Kung makikita niyo po, talagang mas madugo at mas mabigat yung post qualification process,” he added.

The joint venture is bidding for the P18.827-billion contract for the lease of the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC). Included in the contract are automated counting machines, ballots, canvassing and other materials that will be used for voting.

Miru Systems’ bid price is P17.989-billion.

Six companies bought bid documents for the second round—Dominion Voting Systems, AMA Group Holdings Corporation, Electiotech Consultant and Management, Inc., Indra Philippines, Inc., Smartmatic TIM 2016, Inc., and Miru Systems—but only the joint venture of Miru submitted a bid tender.

SMARTMATIC

Smartmatic tried to submit its bid before the deadline on January 8, but the SBAC did not accept it given the Comelec resolution that disqualified the elections technology provider from participating in all procurement processes.

The SBAC also cited the absence of any temporary restraining order on the said resolution.

• Smartmatic disqualified from Comelec procurements: Garcia
• Smartmatic calls disqualification against them in future elections 'unfair'

Smartmatic had been the provider of vote-counting machines since the Philippines shifted to automated elections in 2010.

During the first round of bidding on Dec. 14, 2023, Miru Systems was the only bidder for the contract that includes automated counting machines, ballots, canvassing and other materials that will be used for voting.

They were declared ineligible, however, because they lacked an English translation for supporting documents, and submitted an "incomplete undertaking to enter into a joint venture."

Filipino companies included in the joint venture are Integrated Computer Systems, Inc., Saint Timothy Construction Corporation, and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies, Inc.

Laudiangco emphasized that Miru will be thoroughly evaluated in light of Democracy Watch Philippines’ concern on the company’s track record.

“Gusto lang namin ipanawagan sa COMELEC na sana even if natapos ang proseso, or patapos ang proseso, i-consider din kung ano ang naging performance ng Miru… para tignan kung ano yung mga naging basehan ng mga news reports sa ibang bansa kung saan yung kanilang makina na ginamit ay pumalpak sa Iraq at saka sa Congo,” Lloyd Zaragoza of Democracy Watch Philippines said.

“Lahat ng documents na nai-submit at iba pang isa-submit ay i-e-evaluate ng TWG at SBAC,” Laudiangco responded. “Lahat ng projects completed or ongoing ay iva-validate namin. Nasa kapangyarihan ng SBAC na humingi ng ratings. Ano success rate, failure rate, evaluation ng end user ng projects nila.”

In the event that Miru is deemed ineligible in the post qualification evaluation, another failure of bidding will be declared.

Laudiangco said they have two options: “Kapag may two failed bidding na, pwede mag-negotiated procurement. Parang competitive public bidding din yan kaya lang abbreviated na. Mas mabilis, mas selected na ang bidders at may negotiations part.”

“Isang option pa din ay mag conduct ng third public bidding,” he added.

Laudiangco expects the contract to be awarded by February or early March.

He assured that they are still within their timeline and have a year to procure, evaluate, test, customize, do a local source code review, conduct end to end testing, and get an international certification.

• Lone bidder for 2025 automated polls 'ineligible': Comelec

Watch more News on iWantTFC