Questions over delay in digitisation of schools in Himachal

Bhanu P Lohumi

Shimla, January 19

Questions have been raised on the tendering process for digitisation of 430 schools/ District Institutes of Education and Training (DIET) centres as the Himachal Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (HPSEDC) has asked for additional documents after the completion of the technical bid.

The last date for the submission of tenders was September 13, 2021, in which six bidders participated and two were rejected during the pre-qualifying process. The process of presentation – demo/proof of concept – and technical bid was completed on November 22.

In the normal course, the tender is awarded within a week after the technical bid process is completed but the corporation had asked for the additional clarification and shortfall documents already submitted in the bid after one-and-a-half month.

The logic behind seeking the additional clarification and shortfall documents after the completion of technical bid and allotment of marks is not understandable. It seems that an attempt is being made to bring someone, who earlier did not have the required marks mandatory to participate in the financial bid to be opened on January 24, 2022, alleged the director of a Hyderabad company, who could not apply due to initial restrictions.

Legal experts are of the view that neither additional partner could be included, nor additional documents could be submitted after the technical bid is completed.

Managing Director, HPSEDC, Mukesh Repaswal said after the evaluation of technical bid, minor clarification was sought on the recommendation of the technical committee and attributed the delay in to administrative reasons, besides Covid. “We have received no formal complaint in this regard,” he added.

Students in government schools are losing the benefit of digitisation in the Covid times due to the delay caused in allotment of tender. The funds for this project would expire in March.

‘Attempt to favour someone’

It is alleged that an attempt is being made to bring someone, who earlier did not have the required marks mandatory to participate in the financial bid to be opened on January 24.

What law says

Legal experts are of the view that neither additional partner could be included, nor additional documents could be submitted after the technical bid is completed.