A SENIOR official of the Ministry
of National Security has been identified as the “fixer”
for the controversial multi-million dollar contract awarded to Canadian
Bank Note Company Limited for the supply of machine-readable passport
for Trinidad and Tobago.
The National Security Ministry official works at the highest level
and is reportedly quite close to the Minister of National Security,
Martin Joseph.
According to reliable sources, the “fixer” was responsible
for “massaging” the passport contract until several irregularities
forced the administering of the contract offer to be switched from
the Ministry of National Security to the Central Tenders Board (CTB).
The contract was awarded to Canadian Bank Note for (US)$12,193,260
and it is to run over a five-year period.
The controversy was first raised by United National Congress UNC Senator
Wade Mark and in response, Joseph admitted to the Parliament last
week that there were irregularities in the tendering process for the
tender of supply of machine-readable passports and because of the
irregularities, the process was administered by the CTB.
But according to a top-level National Security source, the “irregularities”
also moved with the Tender to the CTB.
“The Ministry of National Security was forced to move the
Tender to the control of the Central Tenders Board,” the insider
stated.
“There were so many inconsistencies, there was no way the
process could proceed under the National Security Ministry.
“But even when it went to the CTB, the irregularities continued
and one of the three companies bidding for the contract was able to
change its original proposal, which is quite strange, and then a negotiating
team from the Ministry met with officials from the successful company
to finalise the contract.”
On May 5, 2006, the CTB wrote to Canadian Bank Note Company Limited
to inform the Ottawa-based company that its revised proposal dated
April 24, 2006, had been accepted.
The Ministry of National Security first issued the Tender on April
28, 2004, for the supply of machine-readable passports, and was restricted
to three foreign firms, Canadian Bank Note, 3M and De La Rue, the
latter being the traditional supplier of passports to the country
since Independence.
The contract also required “the supply, delivery and installation
of Hardware, Networking Solution, Integrated Passport Issuing System,
Facial Recognition System, Border Control System, E-Visa System, Passport
Reader, Eagle Reader Upgrade, E-Passport Reading Software and AGFIS
System; and Maintenance and Support Services”.
However, some of the participants highlighted a number of irregularities
in the tender document and the Tender was re-issued again by the Ministry
of National Security in November, 2004.
But during the early part of 2005, the CTB took over administration
of the tender and on April 13, 2005, the Tender was re-issued again
under the administration of the CTB, introducing a significant change
in the evaluation process.
Under the CTB, only technical proposals will be evaluated -- all the
financial proposals were scuttled -- and the company with the highest
score on the technical proposal will be asked to commence negotiations
with the National Security Ministry.
Closing date for bids was May 19, 2005 and bids from the three companies
were submitted by that date.
Without giving any reasons for the selection of Canadian Bank Note,
the National Security Ministry began negotiations with the Ottawa
company.
“The Canadian company was allowed to amend its original
bid, including additional systems that were not included in the original
tender offer,” the National Security insider stated. “The
whole process appeared to be doctored.
“And the new amendments led to a major escalation in the
cost and value of the project.
“If additional systems were required, then it is usual
for either a separate RFP to be submitted, or a new tender announced
stating the extra requirements.
“It is highly unusual for a Government tender award to be negotiated
before any official tender notification, because that does not allow
the unsuccessful companies an opportunity to protest or seek clarification
on any issue until it is too late, as was the case with the award
of this contract to Canadian Bank Note.” |
