The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), on the request of rice suppliers, has made some amendments to the tender issued for the procurement of rice for Sri Lanka. Following, the directives of the federal government, the TCP issued a tender on February 4 and invited bids from companies/partnership/sole proprietors dealing in export of rice for export of 10,000 metric tons Long Grain White Rice (PK-386) to Sri Lanka in the shape of containerised bagged cargo packed in 50-kg polypropylene (PP) woven bags. The rice tender will be opened on Monday at TCP head office to finalise the deal for export of rice.
A pre bid meeting with representatives of interested bidders was held on Thursday for deliberation in the tender. Some 6 representatives of interested bidders and six officials of Corporation attended the meeting.
During the meeting, interested bidders said in the clause -21 (d) supplier is required to notify TCP at least ten day prior to ETA at load port details of the vessel, number of containers to be loaded, quantity, port of discharge, ETA at discharge port name o the carrier/agent at discharge port, but generally the said details are shared with the suppliers by the shipping line maximum five (5) days prior to ETA, so the requirement of ten days be substituted with five days. Accordingly, TCP modifying the Clause-12 (d) the words "ten (10) days substituted with the word five (5) days."
Similarly, another participant pointed out that inClause-21 (m) the supplier is required "to provide minimum 21 day line demurrage free time at destination and must be stated in bill of lading", however, at port of Colombo Sri Lanka, the authorities only provide maximum free time of 14-day as it is a busy port, so the this timeline be changed to 14 days from 21 days. On the request of interested parties TCP also amended the Clause-21 (m) and the word "21 days line demurrages free time" has been substituted with the word "14 days line demurrages free time."
As per another amendment, the Clause-12-(i) will be read as "The bid shall be evaluated on the basis of lowest price on cost, insurance freight (CIF) basis subject to conformity of the bids with all the term and conditions of the tender documents." TCP has also announced to delete the clause-20(xvii) in which supplier is required to obtain Clean Mate Receipts (Container-Wise) as interested bidders informed that Clean Mate Receipts are required in case of bulk shipment rather than containerised shipment.
During the meeting TCP officials made it clear that one (1) percent withholding tax under section 154(1) of Income tax ordinance 2001 and 0.25 percent Export Development Surcharge are not applicable. The participants were informed that it will be donation from government of Pakistan for the people of Sri Lanka; therefore the TCP will be very particular about the quality aspects and the specification of the cargo.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.