The Bemax company announced that it offered the best conditions in the tender for the adaptation of the old government building for the needs of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, and that the selection of any other bidder "could be interpreted as political, and not as a decision based on expertise and national interest."
They also claim that the reason for their disqualification was a "minor administrative 'error'".
The Ministry of Public Works recently selected a joint bid from the Nikšić-based companies "Ramel", "LD gradnja", "Stambeno" and Danilovgrad-based "Timing" for the adaptation of the old government building for the needs of SDT and SPO.
“Bemax” filed an appeal against the Decision on the most favorable offer.
"For the announced job of adapting the old Government building for the needs of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, Bemax not only offers the best conditions in terms of guarantees and deadlines, but the selection of any other bidder, especially a consortium whose strength is questionable, could be interpreted as political, and not as a decision based on expertise and national interest. Although Bemax submitted by far the most favorable offer worth 1.781.788,82 euros excluding VAT, while the offer of another consortium (Ramel, LD Gradnja, Stambeno, Timing) amounted to 1,928,368.12 euros excluding VAT, the Ministry of Public Works has expressly - and suspiciously too quickly - decided to eliminate Bemax from the procedure," Bemax's statement reads.
They state that the estimated value of the works was 1.930.000 euros excluding VAT, and that their bid was almost 150.000 euros lower than the bid of the second-placed consortium.
"Bemax was allegedly disqualified due to a procedural irregularity, namely because the statement with the subcontractor stated 'design and execution', instead of just 'execution of works', as required by the tender. Therefore, this is not an irregularity, but a move made intentionally, in accordance with certain items in the technical specification that also include 'development of a project for the constructed facility' for certain phases. Therefore, the word 'design' is intentionally included in the statement that the commission assessed as disputable. That statement was used at a time when it became clear that Bemax's offer was the most favorable. Disqualification due to the above, while simultaneously ignoring 147.000 euros of potential savings, suggests that the real goal was elimination, not selection of the best bidder," Bemax said.
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They also claim that it is clear "that this is a politically motivated attack."
"The decision to disqualify was made with suspicious haste, in the midst of an unprecedented media campaign against our company. Everything was timed so that Bemax would be eliminated from public affairs as soon as possible, regardless of the damage to the state budget. Is the other consortium even correct? In the appeal, Bemax not only defends its correctness, but rightly points to the questionable correctness of the documentation of the consortium of LD Gradnja, Ramel and Stambeno and Timing firms. We ask why the Ministry focused exclusively on Bemax's documentation, while the potential irregularities of the competitor were kept quiet."
Bemax points out that when everything is added up, only one conclusion emerges: "in Montenegro, the highest quality and most favorable contractor is not chosen, but the one who does not politically fit the current structures is eliminated."
They add that they have filed an appeal, and that they expect "justice to finally triumph over political games."
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