e-tendering in PWD soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Public Works Department is gearing up to switch over to e-tendering of civil works within a fortnight. The new system, expected to streamline the execution of works by making it more transparent and efficient, will be implemented in phases.

Official sources told The Hindu here that in the first phase, submission and acceptance of tenders would go on stream. For the time being, the officials would have to verify manually the tender details. The remaining procedures would be incorporated into the new system at the earliest. Execution of works being a complex process, the new system could not be adopted at one go and could be integrated only in a phased manner.

Primarily, sources said, an e-payment facility will have to be provided to the contractors for buying the tender forms and remitting the earnest money deposit. Given the diverse nature of the works, the specifications and standards laid out for each work are different and these have to be verified against the details furnished by the contractors in the tender forms. Other than the road works, construction of buildings and other projects involve the use of different materials. Verification of details and tender approvals can be done in the new system only by computerising the department code and manual. Hence, a specific timeframe has been set for that.