PANAJI: Taking into account various controversies that had cropped up during the International Film Festival of India 2009, pertaining to different tenders awarded by the Entertainment Society of Goa, the organisers, this year have tried to minimise a number of errors and omissions in the tender documents.
It is learnt from reliable sources that the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat had entrusted the responsibility of preparing the IFFI 2010 tender documents to a team of officials led by Mr Valencio Furtado, general manager of the ESG. The CEO ESG, Mr Manoj Srivastava was kept away from this exercise.
The tenders include those for festival hotel, fireworks, lighting, PR agency, printing, sinage, travel agency, venue constructs, and vehicle operator.
Taking corrective measures following the criticism received in the past on account of various flaws and ambiguities in the festival hotel tender, the organisers have now tried to minimise the retention charges paid to the festival hotel in relation to non-utilised rooms. It may be recalled that ESG was criticised in the state legislative assembly for paying an exorbitant amount of more than Rs 1.5 crore to the festival hotels, in the past.
Modifying the retention charges clause this year, the ESG will pay retention charges only on the overall total number of room nights booked for the festival period. In all, 975 room nights have been asked by the ESG from the bidders, this year varying from 20 rooms on November 21 to a maximum of 100 rooms between December 22 and 26.
The ESG has also specifically mentioned submission of technical and financial bids in two separate envelops. It may be recalled that last year, the financial bid of Hotel Vivanta was opened when the said hotel was actually rejected on technical grounds. This act had attracted allegations as regards favouritism to another hotel. The matter since has also reached the Goa State Information Commission.
Surprisingly, the ESG has excluded the condition as regards the location of the festival hotel, which is required to be within 10 kms radius of the festival venue. It may be recalled that the MoU for all previous IFFIs had a clause to this effect. It is now to be seen whether the MoU will accordingly be amended. The hotel industry in Goa has welcomed the decision of the ESG to remove the hotel distance clause. Expressing happiness over this move, the representatives of some five-star properties said that ESG has now allowed them to bid for the festival hotel.
"We will try to give the competitive rates, and hope to get the tender award," they stated. Sources in the ESG revealed that the Chief Minister is keen on holding the opening as well as the closing ceremony of the IFFI 2010 at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. This has prompted ESG to remove the particular clause from the tender.
The tenders for lighting of heritage buildings, venue constructs, and sound and lights still have lot of discrepancies in them as regards to the ambiguity in technical specifications.
The ESG has, however, included the location of Ravindra Bhavan, Margao in the tender document. It is learnt that Ravindra Bhavan, Margao had engaged an independent contractor to carry out various works of venue constructs during IFFI 2009, sidelining the official contractor selected by the ESG.
The ESG has also asked the bidders to submit the proof of work execution through video and photographic evidence on successful completion of the work. The tender document further makes mention of certification of work by competent officials.
It will be recalled that the ESG had drawn criticism and some of its senior officials were alleged of taking kickbacks from the contractor of IFFI 2009, who was paid additional amount to the tune of Rs 80 lakh for the works, even though the works carried out were of sub-standard nature.
