LAHORE: Questions have been raised over the tendering process for a Rs622 million development project of Chenab Club Faisalabad after a technically disqualified contractor`s financial bid was opened by the Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC), while the contractor alleges that the committee`s written decision has not been communicated to it.

According to the tender notice, the club invited bids for externaland infrastructure development at its Expressway Sahianwala site through a single-stage, single-envelope procedure. The estimated cost of the project was Rs622m, with a completion period of six months.

The notice required bidders to have Pakistan Engineering Council registration in Category C-2 or above, experience of at least three similar infrastructure projects during the preceding 10 years, annual turnover equal to 50 per cent of the estimated cost and a closing bank balance equal to 25pc of the estimated cost.

Eight firms reportedly participated in the tender, but only two, M/s Simeon Construction and M/s Highway Construction, had their financial bids opened, accordingto the contractor.

In a letter available withDawn, Chenab Club honorary secretary Dr Abira Haleem informed Simeon Construction that it had been declared technically non-qualified for failing to meet the prescribed eligibility criteria on Sept 8. The letter said the firm`s representative had not attended the tender-opening and evaluation proceedings on Aug 20.

The company challenged its disqualification before the GRC.

M/s Simeon Construction owner, Tauseef Ahmad, told Dawn that the committee heard the representation on Oct 1 at the club and opened Simeon`s financial bid in the presence of its members.

He claimed that the firm had quoted a rate 22pc below the estimated cost, whereas the competing bid was 4pc above it.

Mr Ahmad said the committee had assured the company that itswritten decision would be conveyed, but it had not received the decision by Oct 7.

He alleged that when company representatives visited the club on Oct 7 to obtain the decision for pursuing a further appeal, they waited for about three hours outside the secretary`s office before securitypersonnelallegedlymisbehaved with them and forced them to leave the premises.

When contacted, Ms Haleem said the company had failed to qualify on technical grounds.

She said the matter had been taken up by the GRC, meetings had been held and the club was awaiting its decision.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Faisalabad Sherina Junejo, who heads the GRC, told this reporter that she was not in a position to comment on the matter.