Opposition Senator Dr Margaret Rose says separate investigations into suspected bid-rigging and collusion remain under way following the cancellation of a TT$3.4 billion Housing Development Corporation procurement exercise.
The Office of Procurement Regulation said publicly on July 29 that it had concluded its own-initiative inquiry into HDC’s RFP No. 050126 and submitted a report to the corporation. That statement identified shortcomings in supplier identification and in the rigour of due diligence during the pre-qualification and evaluation stages. It also said complaints connected to the procurement were being addressed separately.
At a People’s National Movement media conference, Rose said later correspondence sent to HDC on August 24 made clear that the report did not end all inquiries. She said correspondence disclosed on October 20 indicated that investigations into suspected bid-rigging and collusion were continuing.
“Cancellation is not a cure for criminality,” Rose said, arguing that cancelling the procurement did not remove the need to investigate possible wrongdoing.
Describing findings she attributed to the regulator’s report, Rose said at least four bidders submitted identical technical documents for core assessment areas, including design methodology, health and safety, and quality management. She also said 13 key personnel, including the same design team, appeared across five bidding entities earmarked for awards.
Rose said the report questioned the justification for restricting invitations to 18 contractors and identified weaknesses in financial and technical checks. She also said a supplier whose profile indicated insolvency, bankruptcy or receivership had been allowed to participate.
She further said eight of 11 selected awardees submitted non-binding bank letters that did not constitute commitments or approvals to lend, although the request for proposals required evidence of a pre-approved minimum TT$100 million working-capital line of credit.
These were Rose’s account and interpretation of the regulator’s findings. Neither the source video nor the OPR’s July 29 public statement established that any bidder or official had been found guilty of an offence, and the press conference did not include responses from HDC or the affected bidders.