SHILLONG, Jan 2: The bidding process to engage a new service provider for operating the 108 ambulances in the state has come under the scanner.
Some bidders said the process lacked transparency and the country’s top players operating ambulances were disqualified.
Expressions of interest (EOIs) were invited from all eligible bidders for a tie-up with TCIL for the operation and management of the emergency response centre (Dial-108) for ambulance services along with a 24-hour call and audit centre for the Department of Health.
TCIL or Telecommunications Consultants India Limited was appointed as the project implementation agency by National Health Mission, Meghalaya, for selecting a backend partner ready to work exclusively on the project.
It was said that nine bidders, including GVK EMRI and Ziqitza Healthcare Limited, applied to operate the ambulance service and five of them were rejected as they were technically disqualified.
Some allegedly disqualified bidders said the EOI required them to give a presentation based on which they would be given marks.
“Neither the presentation was taken nor the marking given in the technical evaluation but the bidders were disqualified,” a bidder said, while adding that the government accepted the bids of IT companies that have no idea of handling emergency services barring the IT-related services they offer.
Procreate Techno Systems Pvt Ltd, Kubera Solutions Pvt Ltd, Medulance Healthcare Pvt Ltd, Pashupatinath Distributors Pvt Ltd and Community Action through Motivation Programme (CAMP) were considered to be technically qualified for the EOI.
The bid of CAMP was later rejected as the technical presentation was not done on time.
Kubera Solutions Pvt Ltd was awarded 91.8 marks out of 100, Procreate Techno Systems Pvt Limited 80.5, Pashupatinath Distributors Pvt Ltd 78.1 and Medulance Healthcare Pvt Ltd 69.9.
An official from the Health department admitted that some bidders raised some issues and the department has sought necessary clarification from those concerned.
It may be mentioned that since 2008, GVK EMRI was tasked with the operation of 108 ambulances in Meghalaya. However, earlier this year, the state government served the closure notice to GVK EMRI and tenders were floated for a new partner.
