The Centralized Purchasing Operator seems to have not taken the baton in vain to award healthcare tenders to companies, without competition. Recently, the institution in question announced the winner of the tender aimed at supplying the "Mother Teresa" University Hospital Center with "Gasoline <0.1%" fuel.
In simpler terms, it is about supplying clean diesel to several departments of the University Hospital for 2 consecutive years, such as: the Neurosurgery Heating Department, the Neurology Heating Department, the Heating Department at the French Hospital, the Heating Department at the Cardio-Surgical Hospital and the Heating Department at the Pediatrics.
The total value of this tender is 1.7 billion lek, while only the operator “RESULI - ER” SHA participated in it. This was enough for the Centralized Purchasing Operator to declare the entity in question the winner, in the absence of competition.
Undeterred by competition, the company has once again offered a bid of 100% of the tender value. This makes it difficult to understand who sets the tender fund limit, the procurement authority or the company itself.
However, the entity in question continues to be a favorite of state institutions, although it is currently under investigation by SPAK in connection with the file of the former mayor of Tepelena, Tërmet Peçi, for IPARD funds. According to information, “Resuli ER” sh.pk is being investigated for land appropriation, IPARD funds and money laundering in construction, assets and shares in resorts, through fictitious sales and purchases and false balance sheets.
Meanwhile, the Centralized Purchasing Operator is a state-owned company, created by the Council of Ministers to carry out procurement for public institutions. Recently, it has taken over the procedures for health institutions. Instead of acting with transparency, this company seems to continue to follow the same path with uncompetitive tenders.
We recall that just a few days ago, the VNA published the report of the Public Procurement Commission (KPP), which listed the Centralized Purchasing Operator as the institution with the most complaints about the tenders it conducts. According to the report, the fact that about 37% of the complaints start from the "tender documents" showed that our officials continue to sew custom suits, where the criteria are set so specific as to suit only the predetermined "client".
But this information seems to fall on deaf ears, as the government has given free rein to the operator entrusted with the procurements.
