In the town of Kosshy, Akmola Region, in February of this year, a «Megapolis» traffic management system, installed using funds from the private company «SpetsTradeTM» LLP, was transferred to the balance sheet of the akimat. Four months later — on June 4 — the same company won a tender worth 57 million tenge for the maintenance of traffic light facilities.
According to SotReport.kz, the competition was held without proper competition and with a number of violations of the law. Three companies took part in the tender: «SpetsTradeTM» LLP, «SpetsStroyService-KZ» LLP and «Research and Development Solution» LLP.
It has become known that until this year, the traffic lights in Kosshy were integrated into the ATMS (automated traffic management system) based on a memorandum signed by the former mayor of the town, Gaidar Kaysenov. The system was modernised and maintained by «SMEU-Astana» LLP.
It is reported that in November last year — after the arrival of the new mayor, Azamat Kapyshev — the town's traffic lights were disconnected from the Kazakh software (SW).
The akimat stated that the previous contractor «blocked access to the SW», which forced the installation of new software. However, journalists noted that the akimat disconnected from the Kazakh programme of its own accord and even wrote a letter about it on 31 January this year.
«The disconnection of the traffic light facilities in the town of Kosshy was carried out by the contractor (Kokzhal LLP) in agreement with the customer (the town's transport department)», the agency wrote.
Later it emerged that the town administration had decided to install Russian software — «Megapolis».
Representatives of the agency explained this choice as a «reluctance to depend on the previous supplier» and with claims that the product is supposedly «publicly available». However, journalists note that the use of «Megapolis» in Kazakhstan is controlled by its rights holder and is restricted for third-party companies.
The media also claim that the akimat conducted the tender for traffic light maintenance without giving due attention to a number of circumstances:
- lack of a quality certificate for the «Megapolis» software;
- the winner of the public procurement for the maintenance of traffic lights with the «Megapolis» system previously «gratuitously» installed the «Megapolis» software;
- the second potential supplier who participated in the tender does not have the necessary equipment to fulfil the obligations under the public procurement contract if they were to win the tender;
- the third potential supplier does not have the required certificate of training from the rights holder of the «Megapolis» software.
It turned out that the second participant in the bidding — «SpetsStroyService-KZ» — rented a crane from «Astana qalalyq zharyq» to fulfil its obligations. According to data from adilet.gov.kz, the crane is under seizure due to the lessor's debts, making the lease legally questionable.
At the same time, the Ministry of Finance is currently reviewing a draft amendment with changes to the procedure for transferring property (including intellectual property) to the state under a deed of gift.
«If the document is ratified, companies transferring software will have to obtain a conclusion from the authorised body in the field of informatisation. This means that outdated, duplicate or ineffective solutions will much less often end up in state ownership», the report states.
Recall that in November last year, the editorial board of FBRK analysed how the cost of contracts for the maintenance of traffic lights in Kosshy changed. We also reported on the overall increase in spending on road infrastructure in Kazakhstan.