The 25 billion VND healthcare contract was implemented in accordance with regulations.

On March 28th, regarding the controversies surrounding the nearly 25 billion VND medical equipment procurement package at Vinh Long General Hospital, according to sources from Giao Thong Newspaper, the Department of Planning and Investment of Vinh Long province has submitted a report to the Provincial People's Committee.

One of the pieces of equipment was purchased through a tender process.

The contract was executed in accordance with regulations.

This is the first procurement package for goods and equipment under the project to invest in equipment for professional work at Vinh Long General Hospital. The package was approved by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee in November 2022, and the contractor selection plan was approved in February 2023.

In the report, the Department of Planning and Investment affirmed that the implementation and organization of the contractor selection process for the bidding package were carried out by the investor, Vinh Long General Hospital, in accordance with the law on bidding.

The contract was worth nearly 25 billion VND, and NP Company and two other entities submitted bids. However, only NP Company was shortlisted as a qualified contractor, meeting the technical requirements. They were then considered, ranked, and awarded the contract at a price very close to the estimated cost, resulting in a budget saving of approximately 0.2%.

The Department of Planning and Investment explained that this is a bidding process, not an auction. Therefore, the implementation process must comply with the regulations of the law on bidding. Bid documents from participating contractors must be valid, meet the prerequisites; meet the requirements regarding capacity and experience; and meet the technical requirements as stipulated in the tender documents before being considered for financial evaluation. Only bids with a price lower than the approved package price will be considered for the winning bid.

Furthermore, during the implementation and selection process, all issues related to the bidding documents were publicly and transparently announced and tendered by the investor on the national online bidding system.

The evaluation of bids and the publication of bid information that met the technical and financial requirements were made public on the national bidding network system as prescribed. The authorities did not receive any complaints or appeals from the participating bidders.

Meanwhile, since the bid price has been made public, it is the contractors' right to submit their bids however they wish. The investor has no right to interfere and can only act in accordance with the law on bidding. The contractor with the lowest bid price, provided it does not exceed the approved bid price, will be considered and awarded the contract.

The bidding ban period has expired.

Regarding the complaints that the prices of some equipment awarded in the aforementioned tender package were higher than those in other localities and units, the Department of Planning and Investment stated that, before inviting bids publicly, the investor had researched and implemented the regulations of the Ministry of Health correctly.

In this case, the investor signed a contract with a valuation company to provide consulting services for the pricing of the equipment in the tender package. The prices of all equipment in the tender package were lower than the listed/declared prices on the Ministry of Health's information portal.

Regarding the information that NP Company won the bid for certain equipment such as the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) system (Japan, Ep 6000+ED-580XT, Fujifilm), low-temperature sterilizer (Mexico, VPRO MAX 2, STERIS - USA), kidney dialysis machine, jaundice treatment lamp, etc., which were higher than those of other hospitals, the Department of Planning and Investment explained that this was due to differences in configuration and year of manufacture.

Regarding the information that NP Company was banned from bidding in 2019 due to dishonesty, the Department of Planning and Investment of Vinh Long province stated that, according to the decision of the People's Committee of Ben Tre province, the company was only banned from participating in bidding for three years in the field of education and training in Ben Tre province.

Meanwhile, the procurement package for goods and equipment of Vinh Long General Hospital, which falls under the healthcare sector, is being implemented within Vinh Long province.

On the other hand, by the time NP Company participated in and won the bidding process at the hospital, the ban had already expired.

"Therefore, the consideration, evaluation, and decision to approve NP Company as the winning bidder for the procurement of goods and equipment for Vinh Long General Hospital is in accordance with the regulations of the law on bidding," the report from the Department of Planning and Investment of Vinh Long province stated.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/vinh-long-goi-thau-y-te-25-ty-duoc-thuc-hien-dung-quy-dinh-192240328175126306.htm