BDA bypasses tender process to purchase computers
In yet another act of circumventing the law, the Electronic Data Processing (EDP) Cell of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has reportedly procured 30 computers for its official purposes without inviting tenders.
Taking shelter under the Director General of Supplies and Disposal (DGS&D) exemption clause of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999, the Authority has made a purchase for Rs 12,33,120.
Documents in possession of Deccan Herald show that each of the 30 XT764PA HP desktop costs Rs 38,280.
In violation
Sources in BDA said despite a mandatory clause, as per the KTPP Act, of calling for tenders for any infrastructure requirements over Rs one lakh for the State government organisations, BDA bought the computers directly under the DGS and D rate contracts.
The total cost of the 30 desktops is placed at over Rs 12 lakh, well above the prescribed limit to avoid e-tendering process, but sanctioned under the DGS and D rate contracts.
Direct procurement
Sources said the EDP Cell decided to go ahead with direct procurement to ensure that the desktops were delivered at the earliest. Sources said, the desktops were nowhere to be found in the BDA.
"We do not even know why they were procured when there is no activity in the Cell," said the source.
Ironically, the 30 desktops have been purchased under the authority of N Bhaskar, the Systems Manager of the EDP Cell, deputed from KSFC.
Deccan Herald had earlier reported that Bhaskar's recruitment, along with that of his colleague from the same organisation, Iladevi, were in violation of Cadre and Recruitment rules.
