OUR did not want bidding process

The Office of Utilities Regulation says it did not establish any deadlines for the submission of bids from interested parties in the 360 megawatt project.



The Contractor General has raised concern about the Evaluation Process for the bids to supply 360 megawatts of generating capacity to the national grid.



In his report, the Contractor General highlighted the acceptance of an unsolicited proposal from Energy World International at the last minute.



But speaking at a press conference yesterday afternoon OUR’s Director of Regulation, Policy, Monitoring and Enforcement Ansord Hewitt said the company had set no deadlines neither did it set any rules for submission.



He explained that the OUR had not intended to embark on a bidding process.



Mr. Hewitt said the company only indicated a cut-off time for the submission of proposals to prevent the submission of further unsolicited bids.



But he said the OUR had consulted and received advice from the National Contracts Commission before setting a cut-off date.



"After reviewing an appeal from one of the five entities that had made submissions and which was not selected, the OUR included that entity after it indicated it was now in a position to address a critical drawback that was cited by the evaluation," said Hewitt.



"Recognizing the risk that until it had indicated that it was now in a formal process, it would be obliged to consider any proposal submitted, that at least met the criteria for those already selected - the OUR advised the cabinet by way of letter dated May 20, 2013 that after May 22nd, it would be closing the window to any further, unsolicited offers."



Mr. Hewitt emphasized that the OUR also took the view that given the need to secure lower rates in the shortest possible time, it was desirable to have as large a number of offers as possible from which the best could be selected.



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