Over 200 million tenge could be the overpayment in state procurement of ear tags for agricultural animals in the Turkestan Region, according to calculations by participants in the legal dispute. After the results of two tenders were reviewed, domestic producers challenged the decisions regarding the selection of the supplier, appealed to the courts, and sent appeals to government bodies.
HOW THE TENDER RESULTS CHANGED
As journalist Mikhail Kozachkov reported on his Telegram channel "Kozachkov offside", in the spring two tenders were held in the Turkestan Region for the supply of ear tags for cattle and small livestock, valued at approximately 60 million and 250 million tenge.
Initially, Ediny Konsolidiruyushchiy Tsentr LLP and ZTOWN Development LLP were declared the winners. Later, Alan A2 Technology LLP, which participated in these tenders, filed a complaint with the Turkestan Region's public procurement department.
According to a source, the department agreed with the arguments of the complaint, stating that the bids of several participants contained inaccurate wording when describing product characteristics. Subsequently, the bids of other participants were rejected, and Alan A2 Technology LLP was declared the winner of both tenders.
WHAT CLAIMS ARE THE DISPUTE PARTICIPANTS MAKING
The losing companies consider the decisions to review the procurement results to be unjustified. They also claim that the review of the complaints took longer than stipulated by law. The materials do not clarify whether an official assessment of these arguments was given by the authorised bodies.
Furthermore, the complainants assert that the products offered by the tender winner are more expensive than domestic analogues. According to their calculations, the overpayment on one tender exceeds 176 million tenge, and on the second — 35 million tenge.
WHAT THE COURTS ARE CONSIDERING
Domestic producers have filed lawsuits with the courts and also sent appeals to the office of the Prime Minister and the Anti-Corruption Service of the National Security Committee (ACS NSC). They are requesting a review of the legality of the actions of akimat employees and the compliance of the supplied products with the established requirements.
According to the complainants, the ear tags offered by the procurement winner may not meet the technical specifications regarding certain characteristics, nor the requirements of the international organisation ICAR.
Court proceedings are ongoing in Astana and Turkestan. It is reported that one of the processes in Turkestan has already concluded in favour of the supplier, while the hearing of another case continues.
CONTEXT
A similar situation has arisen in the Zhambyl Region, where Alan A2 Technology LLP also became the winner of the tender. At the same time, the author of the publication claims that the procurements were carried out during the period of a ban on the purchase of foreign-made ear tags.
