Aqra bil-Malti
A long-coming regeneration project of Bugibba’s main square has had project costs increased from €1.7 million to €10.6 million.
The project, administered by Infrastructure Malta announced in 2021, was awarded to the highest bidder at almost double the lowest bid price. Usually, procurement procedures dictate that the lowest bidder meeting the tender’s criteria is awarded the job.
The architects selected to design and manage the project are XYZ Architecture, led by former Labour Deputy Leader Daniel Micallef.
He resigned last summer following Labour’s troubling result at the polls, insisting he wanted to concentrate on his profession.
Over budget when no work has yet begun
In 2021, former Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo announced plans to refurbish Buġibba Square, which is relatively small but often frequented by tourists and locals.
The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) had applied for a permit in 2017 – four years earlier.
Bartolo announced at the time, during a press conference, that the project would cost some €1.7 million and be completed in 2022. No work was ever carried out.
Last week, Transport Minister Chris Bonett held another press conference at the same place as his former cabinet colleague.
This time, with bulldozers in the background, Bonnet announced the start of the square’s revamp. The difference is that this time, he announced that the project would cost €10 million.
The minister, who in the past was associated with irregular direct orders related to the building of a shooting range, did not explain how the refurbishing costs had increased dramatically.
He said that the project will include additional works in other streets leading into it in addition to the square.
Doubts on procurement
The tender related to the ongoing works, which are now expected to be completed by the summer of 2026, was issued by Infrastructure Malta.
The value of the tender was estimated at a maximum of €7 million. Five bidders participated, with bids varying from €5.8 million by Road Shredder JV to €10.2 million by RM Construction Ltd.
Contrary to the norm, the tender was awarded to the highest bidder.
Usually, such tenders are awarded to the lowest bidder. In this case, the opposite happened.
The highest bidder, RM Construction, was awarded the tender at a much higher value than its estimated cost (€7 million). Usually, this would have led to the cancellation of the tender and a re-issue.
The winning bidder was awarded the tender for €10.6 million or €400,000 more than his bid.
So far, no explanation has been provided.
Whilst I will not enter into the merits of this specific project, one must be careful when generalising on award of bids to cheapest or noting award of contract to higher than cheapest bidders. The award of contracts goes to the cheapest COMPLIANT bid, compliance to tender documents being subject to a rigourously regulated evaluation process, open to clarifications or rectifications as allowed by the rules giving such opportunities to any of the participating bidders. The evaluation process is subject to at least two higher authorities prior to award whilst any aggravated bidder (having been notified of his failings) can file an objection (albeit at a fee) for a final decision by the Public Contracts Review Board (PCRB).
Under Lejber, the above is irrelevant!
It’s disgusting and cheap looking. Not enough seating, as previously not enough seating. Now it is going to be worse. Children are seen regularly hanging from lamps on the previous square. Now they will be climbing up the ugly wooden ladder structures and hanging on the trees. Are you really going to block the road on the sea front? Is Buggiba plans to becomming a smart city for it’s slave population? What future does any one young in this country have? Really ten million? WT…..
You are no doubt spot-on with your reasoning behind who should or should not be awarded a contract, but this is Malta and I have no doubt that the highest bidder won as it provides much more scope for kick-backs.
Political tribute and patronage appear to trump compliance with (sham) tender documentation in today’s Malta. Only a wilfull ostrich would continue to trust the integrity of MLP’s adulterated bidding processes.
T Taxxi se hhallsu dal progett, IVA, T-Taxxi ta min huma? Tal Maltin. Mela jista l onrevoli Bonnet jispjegalna fid dettal fejn se jintefqu l 10.7 miljun ewro, u kemm se jiswa meta jitlesta nisperaw mhux xi 20 miljun flok 10.7 miljun li ftit ilu kienu 1.7 miljun. Meta tonfoq flus kumpanija u ma taghtiex rendikont, titkecca jew titwaqqaf u jifthulek kawża biex tirritorna l flus. Ma dan taghmel rapport mal pulużija fuq Fraudi, serq u ngann. Tonfoq flus il poplu qieshom tieghek hija Arroganża bil pedigree , Fraudi u serq .
L bwiet taghhom ghalhekk qed jehxien!
Hey, must not every Lejber ‘Tom Dick and Harry’ involved in the project be double compensated? Otherwise who is going to fund the party machine? An election is in the offing…!
I am just wondering what the citizens of SPB will get for 10 million plus of their taxes? I’d have welcomed this investment on pavement so folks don’t slip and break their bones. I would have loved investment in public amenities so we don’t have to see rubbish laying in the street for days. I would have cheered for green spaces and maybe a sports complex for our kids. We are paying tor this. What do we get?
Must be gold plated! It’s only a few square metres and the coffee shop surrounds are not being changed. Been passed several times lately and no apparent work being done. Another shameful example of why Malta struggles internationally.