New Amendments in Punjab Procurement Rules (PPRA) 2014: Streamlined Bidding and Complaint Process Introduced-Notification

GOVERNMENT OF THE PUNJAB
SERVICES & GENERAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
(Implementation & Coordination Wing)

Dated Lahore the 20^th September, 2024

NOTIFICATION

No. SO(CAB-I) 2-9/2015.-     In exercise of the powers conferred under section 26 of the Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority Act, 2009 (VIII of 2009), Governor of the Punjab is pleased to make the following amendments in the Punjab Procurement Rules 2014, with immediate effect:-

AMENDMENTS

In the Punjab Procurement Rules 2014:

1.            In rule 12:

(a)         In sub-rule (1)

• for the word “two”, the word “five” shall be substituted;
• the words “and upto the limit of three million rupees” shall be omitted; and
• the expression “but if deemed in public interest, the procuring agency may also advertise the procurement In at least one national daily newspaper” shall be omitted; and

            (b)       sub-rule (2) shall be omitted.

2.         In rule 14, in sub-rule (3):

• The words “in a newspaper or” shall be omitted; and
• the expression “, whichever is later” shall be omitted.

3.            In rule 25:

        (a)       in sub-rule (1), at the end, the following shall be inserted:

“The procuring agency shall upload the complete bidding documents on the website of the Authority.

                                Explanation: – In this rule, uploading of the complete bidding documents means that the procuring agency shall upload the bidding documents at the time of uploading of tender advertisement”; and

        b)         for sub-rule (7), the following shall be submitted:

“(7) The bidder shall download the bidding documents from the website of the Authority and participate in the procurement process without paying any cost or fee.”.

4.         In rule 59:

            (a)       in clause (a):

                       (i)           for the word “below”, the word “upto” shall be substituted; and

                  (ii)          for the word “seventy five”, the words “two hundred” shall be substitute and

               (b)          in clause (b):

                              (i)           for the word “seventy live,” the word “two hundred” shall be substitute and

                              (ii)          for the words “but less than”, the words “and upto” shall be substitute and

(iii)        for the word “two”, the word ‘five” shall be substituted.

5.            For rule 67, the following shall be substituted:

“67. Redressal of grievances by the procuring agency.- (1 procuring age, shall constitute a Grievance Redressal Corn, comprising of odd number of persons, with proper powers authorizations, to address the complaints of bidders that may occur to the entry into force of the procurement contract.

                                             (2)          The Committee may:

(a) decide the complaint lodged by any bidder before the pre submission date;

                                                            (b) set aside the decision of technical evaluation committee;

                                                            (c) uphold the decision of technical evaluation committee;

                                                            (d) modify the decision of technical evaluation committee; and

(e) recommend scrapping of the procurement process reasons to be recorded in writing.

                                             (3)          Any bidder feeling aggrieved by any act of the procuring agency after the submission of his bid may lodge a written complaint concerning his grievances within five days of announcement & technical evaluation report and ten days after issuance of final evaluation report.

                                             (4) In case, the complaint is filed after the issuance of the evaluation report, the complainant cannot raise any objection on technical evaluation of the report. Provided that detail technical evaluation report has been uploaded on the website of the Authority:

                                             Provided further that the complainant may raise the objection or part of the final evaluation report in case where single stage envelope bidding procedure is adopted.

                                             (5) The Committee shall investigate and decide the complaint within fifteen days of the receipt of the complaint.”

               6.            After rule 67, the follow, shall be Inserted:

               “67A. Representation or complaint before the Managing Director.- (1) Any bidder aggrieved by any decision of the Grievances Redressal Committee may file a representation before the Managing Director within seven days of communication of the decision.

                              (2) The Managing Director may suspend the procurement proceedings till the final decision:

                              Provided that mere filling of a representation does not rnean suspension of the procurement process.

                              (3) In case of violation of any provision of the rules, not being a grievance as mentioned under rule 67 of the rules, any person may file a complaint before the Managing Director.

                              (4) The decision of the Managing Director on representation or complaint, as the case may be, shall be final.

                              (5) A fee, to be decided by the Authority from time to lee, in shape of demand draft shall be submitted in the name of the Managing Director for filing a representation or complaint, as the case may be. The refund of such fee in case of true and genuine representation or complaint and forfeiture in case of false and frivolous representation or complaint shall be decided by the Managing Director on case to case basis.”.

CHIEF SECRETARY GOVERNMENT OF THE PUNJAB