India tightens bidding regulations for bordering countries
With an eye predominantly on China, India has amended tips imposing constraints on public procurement from bidders of countries with which it shares land border, citing grounds of defence and national security, studies our New Delhi correspondent.
Bidders from these countries will be eligible only if they are registered with the Registration Committee constituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) beneath the commerce ministry, said the ministry in a statement issued late last night announcing the amendment to General Finance Guidelines of 2017.
The bidders from these countries would also be asked to take mandatory political and security clearance from external affairs and home ministries, reports our correspondent quoting the statement as saying.
However, measures would be calm for procurement of Covid-19 medical supplies till December 31, it added.
The finance ministry said its order for prior registration wouldn't normally connect with countries to which India extends credit lines or provides development assistance regardless if they share a land border with India.
India shares its border with China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and Myanmar.
As per official info, India has extended credit lines to Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and 41 African countries.
The Indian government in addition has directed the state governments to implement this order for all public procurement.
The finance ministry order takes into its ambit public sector banks and finance institutions, autonomous bodies, public sector enterprises and public-private partnership projects acquiring financial support from the Indian government or its undertakings.
The brand new provisions will apply to all new tenders. According of tenders already invited, if the first stage of evaluation of qualifications has not been completed, bidders who are not registered beneath the new order will end up being treated as not experienced, the statement stated adding if this stage features been crossed, ordinarily the tenders will become cancelled and the process will be began afresh.
The new order will not connect with procurement by the private sector.
India and China are embroiled in a good military standoff at the unresolved border found in eastern Ladakh where the armies of both countries had clashed on June 15 found in Galwan Valley leaving 20 Indian troops dead.
Both countries have agreed to pull-back again troops from friction areas but there were reports in the Indian media in the last 2-3 days that the Chinese soldiers are but to withdraw from some parts in Ladakh.
