The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has introduced new guidelines to streamline the bidding process for national highway projects, stating that even a single bid will be considered if it meets reasonable criteria. The announcement, made on Wednesday, aims to address concerns about project delays and ensure timely execution of infrastructure developments. Also ReadMumbai Metropolitan Region’s first double-decker flyover with metro viaduct opens to traffic New Guidelines for Single Bids According to the new circular, the bidding process will not be canceled solely due to the presence of a single bidder. The ministry emphasized that the process remains valid provided that the procurement was advertised satisfactorily, adequate time was given for bid submissions, the qualification criteria were not overly restrictive, and the pricing is deemed reasonable compared to market value. The circular further detailed how the reasonableness of the pricing should be assessed. It instructs the evaluation committee to compare the rates with similar contracts awarded in other regions, accounting for factors such as inflation, geographical conditions, and the specific carriage requirements for materials. This ensures that pricing reflects current economic conditions and project-specific needs. In cases where only one bid is received, the evaluation committee will also consider the purchase price of similar contracts and adjust for any discrepancies related to material transport or other relevant factors.
