Kathmandu – The Department of Passport has extended the deadline for the e-passport printing and supply tender by one month.
Initially announced on November 28, the tender called for printing 6,000 e-passports within 45 days. After a pre-bid meeting on December 19, companies raised concerns over certain specifications, suggesting the tender was tailored to a single company. Despite this, the deadline was extended to February 12, without addressing their concerns.
The tender includes two linked packages, allowing bidders to offer counter discounts if both are awarded to the same company. Companies sought clarity on this, as some believe the condition favors IDEMIA, a French company. The issue is that if one company offers a low price for Package I and a high price for Package II, or vice versa, the tender will go to the same company, possibly making it easier for IDEMIA to win both packages.
Under the Public Procurement Act, the department must address questions raised during the pre-bid, but no response has been provided so far.
