A total of 52 contractors on Tuesday participated in the bid opening exercise for the construction of rural roads to aid access and movement of agricultural produces by the Osun Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (ORAAMP) held at its head office in Osogbo, Osun state capital.
The exercise, according to the Project Coordinator, Osun Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, Engineer Rasaq Okediya, was done in compliance with the provision of Public Procurement Act 2015.
He said the agency under him is committed to fairness and integrity in the selection process, noted that “every contractor will be treated equally as there is no preference whatsoever among them. Whoever win any of the bids will do so on the strength of capacity, antecedent and convincing presentation through documentation that a good job will be done.”
Engr Okediya said the projects segmented into four lots, stretched a 48km length, was bidded for by contractors on Tuesday, adding that the process was open and followed due process.
He said the road bidded for include: Backlog maintenance/rehabilitation of the 2.58km Testing ground–Imoru Community School– Laaroye– Kuta/Ile–Ogbo road; Backlog maintenance/rehabilitation of the 5.29km Kobongbogboe road– Oluawo Ayoka– Kuliyat– Atman Junction; Backlog maintenance/rehabilitation of the 1.94km Igbaye Grammar School Junction– IGS– Opete/ Ara road (cemetery).
Others are Backlog maintenance/rehabilitation of the 2.9km Agodo– Olde Tangbori– Ogbagba; Backlog maintenance/rehabilitation of the 5.9km Ojudo Logun– Araromi– Akinbode– Loogun road; Backlog maintenance/rehabilitation of the 21.74km Ogberin Ede– Adeleke Uni– Loogun Egbeda– Ode-Omu road; Backlog maintenance/rehabilitation of the 4.76km Trade fair– Aduramigba– Okinni road; Backlog maintenance/rehabilitation of the 2.85km Iwoye– Nazareth farm with spur to Abiye road.
On Friday, a total of 13 contractors bidded for the upgrading of 35.9km rural roads. The roads which was segmented into two lots, are the 21km Akoda-Ayetoro-Baale Wajeko-Ife/Ilesa Expressway, which cut across three local governments of Ede North, Ayedaade and Atakumosa West, and the 14.5km Methodist High School, Aagba-Oore-Ibotoro, which covers two Local governments of Boripe and Obokun.
The bids were opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives with the final bid estimates dictated in line with the procurement guidelines.
Speaking on the exercise, the General Manager of the Procurement Agency in the state, Engineer Oyetola Babatunde Adesina, who chaired the process, said the essence of the exercise is to provide contractors a level play ground and ensure that the state get the best hands to handle the road projects.
He emphasized that there are other processes that the bids would be subjected to before final approval such as evaluation. He added that the evaluation among other things would look at the arithmetic accuracy, submission of relevant documents as specified in the bidding document and important criteria needed.
“So far so good, we are all satisfied. It’s transparent and fair, and everybody can see that it is open. There is no issue of any hanky-panky or anything. It is an open tendering and everybody can justify that,” he noted at the event.
Engr. Adesina noted that the opening bid is just the begining of the process that will lead into the award of the road projects, saying the bid of each of the contractors will be subjected to a thorough analysis to evaluate submissions before coming to the final decision of the winners.
“So, at the end of the day, the least responsive bidder, what we mean by that is that, it is not only price, we will look at the past experience, what you have done, all everything, so that when we now find out that you have met all the conditions, that is when we can recommend,” he added.
In his own remark, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works who also doubles as the Chairman Project Monitoring Committee in the state, Engineer IB Bello said the open bidding is yet a demonstration of the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration commitment to transparency and fairness, noting that it is in furtherance of the progress of Osun.
“The process is okay, we have all representatives here present, people from Abuja and above all. So, the system is okay and everybody is in total support of it. And it is part of the progress of the state, so we welcome it,” he said.
The Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Affairs, Alhaji Ganiyu Ayobami Ola-Oluwa (Asejere) applauded the exercise as a manifestation of the Governor Ademola Adeleke resolve for transparency, saying the road projects will improve the lives of people at the rural community and support agricultural activities.
“There is a saying that, if God sees you, let the people also see you. One of the promises of Governor Adeleke is to give opportunity for indigenous contractors in projects embarked on under him and what we are seeing here today is a fulfilment of that promise with the bidding exercise,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the lawmaker representing Ayedire state constituency and the Chairman of the House Community on Rural and Community Development, Hon. Oderinwale Elisha Akinyemi, commended the transparent nature of the bidding exercise, saying it is a reflection of the Adeleke administration commitment to due process and transparency.
“Actually, I am not surprised with what is going on here. What is going on here is part of Senator Ademola Adeleke promise for the good people of Osun State that he will not be bias but run the affairs of the state transparently. It is what is happening that everyone can see here today. This is an open tender, no bias and as you can see now, most of the contractors witnessed the exercise and can see things for themselves,” the lawmaker noted.
