Govt directive on e-tendering being flouted for multi-crore ICDS procurements

One NIT not opened on time; 2nd cancelled without plausible reason

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 28: Mission Directorate of Integrated Child Development Scheme, which is notorious for mismanagement, has once again landed in the dock for flouting the Government directive on making procurements through e-tendering.
This time the Directorate has stalled twice the transparent procedure for purchase of nutrition items worth crores of rupees during the past four months without any plausible reason and has now resorted to non-transparent method thereby raising many doubts.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that for procurement of various nutrition items to be supplied to the Anganwari centres across Jammu and Kashmir, the State Level Contract Committee headed by Mission Director Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) floated e-NIT No.1 of 2017 dated September 22, 2017 for 2017-18 financial year.
The e-NIT No.1 was to be opened on October 24, 2017 but the same was not done despite the fact that adequate number of firms had submitted their bids. Thereafter, the Contract Committee without specifying any reason floated e-NIT No.2 dated December 15, 2017 and this was to be opened on December 30, 2017.
However, much before the completion of process initiated through e-NIT No.2 dated December 15, 2017, the Mission Director ICDS dashed a communication No.SMD/ ICDS/Plg/2017-18/36354-55 dated December 20, 2017 to the Administrative Secretary of Social Welfare Department seeking instructions for cancellation of e-NIT No.2.
Acting on the communication of Mission Director, the Social Welfare Department vide communication No. SW/Actts-Nutrition/ICDS/2013-14/43 dated January 3, 2018 accorded sanction for cancellation of e-NIT No.2.
“Owing to the non-finalization of procurement process through e-tendering and in view of the fact that financial year is at its fag end, the concurrence of the Finance Department has been obtained for availing other options for procurement of nutrition items”, the Social Welfare Department said in the communication while giving go ahead to the Mission Director for exercising the options other than e-tendering.
“The ground of non-finalization of procurement process through e-tendering was taken by the Social Welfare Department despite the fact that e-NIT No.2 was to be opened on December 30, 2017 and the ICDS Mission Director suggested for exercising other options much before the completion of process initiated vide e-NIT No.2”, sources pointed out.
After obtaining approval from the Social Welfare Department although on certain ‘misleading’ facts, the Mission Director vide Order No.28-SMD of 2018 dated January 6, 2018 formally cancelled e-NIT No.2 with immediate effect.
Thereafter, the Mission Director vide communication No.SMD/ICDS/2017-18/1371-74 dated January 15, 2018 asked all the District Programme Officers of ICDS to inform all successful suppliers of last financial year to attend his office along with the relevant documents and also samples of the nutrition items on January 16, 2018.
Again vide communication No.SMD/ICDS/Accts/2018/1895-1987 dated January 18, 2018, the Mission Director modified the letter of January 15, 2018 asking the District Programme Officers to inform all the eligible suppliers of last financial year to attend his office along with relevant documents and samples of the nutrition items on January 19, 2018 up to 3 pm positively.
Issuance of directions for compliance to the modified letter within 24 hours has clearly established that the Mission Director is keen to complete the procurement process for multi-crore nutrition items through non-transparent manner hurriedly, sources said.
“Non-opening of e-NIT No.1 and cancellation of e-NIT No.2 without assigning any plausible reason and thereafter issuing one after another order modifying the earlier one has raised many doubts vis-à-vis transparency in the procurement worth crores of rupees”, sources said.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the Government Circular No.04 dated May 20, 2015 clearly states that all procurements above Rs one lakh shall be made through e-tender so as to maintain utmost transparency. Even State Vigilance Commission (SVC) has repeatedly been laying thrust on this mode of procurement so as to remove any chance of mismanagement and illegalities.
According to the sources, the High Court in a writ petition filed by one of the aggrieved firms has stayed the communications No.SMD/ ICDS/2017-18/371-74 dated January 15, 2018 and SMD/Accts/1895-1987 so far as these pertain to the petitioner.
The High Court has also issued notices to the State through Commissioner Secretary to Government, Social Welfare Department and State Mission Director ICDS Projects J&K returnable without four weeks.
The writ petition will come up for further hearing on February 26, 2018.

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