ONGC tender leaks
AK Hazarika, ONGC chairman, has rejected demands from oilfield contractors to scrap ONGC’s electronic bid submission system because of a recent spate of close tender results.
Last month Hazarika told a delegation from the Indian chapter of the International Association of Drilling Contractors that ONGC’s bid submission system follows strict CVC (Central Vigilance Commission) guidelines which dictate bids must be received electronically. “Accepting ‘physical’ bids is out of the question,” says ONGC.
“We cannot change the CVC guidelines.” Under its old paper-based bid system ONGC received cardboard cartons full of documents for hapless executives to plough through.
“But with electronic bidding I can’t see who can access my price bid,” complains a contractor. “Under the old (paper-based) system price bids were opened in front of everyone.
” Halliburton, Schlumberger, Transocean and Great Offshore were among those who attended meeting, we hear.