Friday, May 24, 2019
Goa tourism department has received five bids for a beach cleaning tender that was floated a while ago. Friday was the last day to receive bids.
The department which has been presently using the services of Drishti Lifesaving until now, will have to finalise a bidder, and select the new agency before the next tourist season kicks off in September.
A source said it would be difficult for the tourism ministry to seek more time from the high court of Bombay at Goa to select a new agency, as the current one which was hired without following a tendering process has been in its service since December 2006.
A writ petition challenging its decision of hiring Drishti Lifesaving without following the tendering process is pending before the high court.
Already enough questions are being raised about the tourism ministry’s decision. This is the second tender floated by the department after the earlier tender was revoked as only one bidder had qualified when technical bids were opened few months ago.
The government’s decision to cancel the previous tender also was a result of queries by the finance department which felt the tender conditions were restrictive, and as a result, few could apply.
A source said, ideally the ministry would select the lowest bidder to carry out beach cleaning which involves beach stretches of North and South Goa.
Tags: goa tourism
