Kebs extends import inspection contracts
What you need to know:
- The Japanese firm says the Kenya Bureau of Standards had awarded the bid to QISJ despite failing to fully meet tender conditions. It raises issues of capacity, conflict of interest and fees payable to Kebs as the grounds for opposition.
Kenya Bureau of Standards has extended the pre-shipment inspection for motor vehicles contract for two of the three firms that have been offering the service since 2012.
The standards body renewed the contracts of Quality Inspection Service Japan (QISJ) and Auto Terminal Japan (ATJ) and omitted Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Centre (Jevic).
PENDING OUTCOME
“Kenya Bureau of Standards has extended the contracts of QISJ and ATJ for a period of 90 days, pending the outcome of an appeal before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB),” Kebs managing director Charles Ongwae told the Nation Wednesday.
Last month, Kebs awarded the contract to QISJ, arguing that the country does not need more than one company to offer the service.
Jevic and Auto Terminal Japan appealed against the decision to the Public Procurement Administrative Board seeking to have the it overturned so that the standards body is ordered to conduct fresh tendering.
The Japanese firm says the Kenya Bureau of Standards had awarded the bid to QISJ despite failing to fully meet tender conditions. It raises issues of capacity, conflict of interest and fees payable to Kebs as the grounds for opposition.
CONDUCT FIRST HEARING
The Public Procurement Administrative Review Board is expected to conduct the first hearing of the appeal tomorrow.
“The conclusion of the appeal will inform the next steps as far as the tender is concerned... 90 days is a reasonable period to provide for the continuity that the market requires for stability,” Mr Ongwae said.
