February 21, 2006	Tuesday	Muharram 22, 1427

MULTAN, Feb 20: Ambiguities further shrouded the TCP’s tender called for the import of 50,000 tons of urea as the authorities concerned could not process the bids for final qualification on Monday.

The Trading Corporation of Pakistan had invited bids for import of 50,000 tons of urea through a tender no. imp/urea-01/06 advertised in January this year. The tenders were initially to be opened on February 13 but the TCP authorities had postponed the process at the eleventh hour on that day without citing any reason.

Some 13 firms had taken part in the tender. Later, only these firms were informed reportedly through fax messages that now the tenders would be opened on February 20. Under the laid down procedure, the intended importers would have to submit both technical and financial proposals for the quantity of urea they aspired to trade in the country.

Technical and financial proposals were supposed to be submitted in a packet while inserted in separate sealed envelopes. It is learnt that 8 of the 13 firms withdrew their tenders voluntarily on Monday while technical proposals of rest of the five firms were reviewed by the TCP authorities.

The contending bidders were first informed that the financial proposals would be considered at about 2pm after deciding fate of the technical proposals. Later on, it was said that now the financial proposals would be reviewed at 4pm. But, at about 4.30pm the bidders were told that now the matter had been postponed for Tuesday. It is interesting that the TCP authorities could not even make any announcement about the technical qualification or disqualification (whatsoever the case may be) of the intended firms.

The urea tenders called by the TCP have somehow become controversial since the bids offering higher prices in the tender No. 42/05 were accepted and later on making certain amendments in the delivery/shipment schedule while calling bids under the tender No. 50/05. The amendments made in the latter tender vis-à-vis delivery period were revoked in the tender No. 01/06.