Works delayed by Bemax appeals

The Kolašin Commission for the Implementation of the Public Procurement Procedure has once again decided to entrust the works on the adaptation of city, suburban and local roads, worth 1,3 million euros, including VAT, to the Konstruktor Group-Briv consortium.

A previous identical decision was annulled by the Commission for the Protection of Rights in Public Procurement Procedures, which partially accepted the appeal of the Podgorica-based company Bemax. The decision ordered the Municipality to eliminate the irregularities pointed out within 15 days and to notify the Commission thereof within three days.

The tender related to the adaptation works of city and suburban streets, as well as local and uncategorized roads: Skrbuša-Rečine, Vranještica, Osreci-Ljuta, Lipovo, Trebaljevo, Bašanje Brdo, Cerovica, Javorje, Prekobrđe, Bojići and local streets.

In the new decision of the Kolašin Commission, the bids of the company Eurozox from Danilovgrad were ranked second, Bemax third, and Tofi from Rožaje fourth.

Bemax also appealed against the decision of the Mojkovac Commission for the Implementation of Public Procurement Procedures, according to which for works worth more than 900.000 euros for the asphalting of the roads of Prošćenske planina, Barice, Krupice, Bjelojevići, Pržište, Brskovo... the people of Mojkovac chose the offer of Konstruktor Group doo from Bijelo Polje, while Bemax was ranked second. The Commission for the Protection of Rights in Public Procurement Procedures rejected the appeal as unfounded.

In that case, Bemax claimed that the factual situation regarding the due tax liabilities of Konstruktor Group had not been established. However, as stated in the decision rejecting the appeal, the contracting authority acted in accordance with the Public Procurement Law and the Commission's previous decision, by verifying the data submitted in the declaration of the economic entity. The Tax Administration issued a certificate that Konstruktor Group had duly settled all due tax liabilities, including income tax, profit tax, VAT and fees for the use of mineral resources.

Due to appeal procedures filed by bidders in public procurement procedures, many infrastructure projects in the north of the country are facing significant delays. In the conditions of a short construction season, which lasts only a few months due to climatic conditions, valuable time for the implementation of works is lost.

The tender for the construction of Mojkovac roads was announced in June, and Bemax appealed twice. The public procurement procedure for the adaptation of city, suburban and local roads in Kolašin also began in June, and the first decision on the selection of the most favorable bid was made in early August.