The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has decided to focus on the track record of bidders and their sustainability in choosing the right firm to bag the biggest and last contract in the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), or the national ID project.
PSA said this is part of their proposed alternative requirements they submitted to the Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) for the procurement of the Systems Integrator (SI) contract.
Last week, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua told senators that the PSA is already procuring the SI for the national ID. The SI is essentially a consultancy contract which will bind all the components of the PhilSys.
“As a priority project, the national ID cannot be delayed any further. That is why we have proposed alternative ways of complying with documentary requirements in compliance with pertinent resolutions issued by the Government Procurement Policy Board,” said National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa.
“We will focus on the track record of the bidders and evaluate their suitability against the determined eligibility criteria as with all other competitive bidding,” Mapa added.
Mapa told BusinessMirror over the weekend that reducing the number of requirements would help bidders prepare for the bidding in the shortest possible time.
He said the pandemic is making it difficult for bidders to secure the necessary clearances and documents needed in the government’s procurement rules.
These changes, Mapa said, were allowed under the GPPB’s issuances in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the passage of the Bayanihan to Health as One Act.
“We are in extraordinary times in light of the pandemic, and given this, our prospective bidders would need longer time to secure necessary clearances and other documentary requirements,” he said.
“To clarify, we are able to continue with our procurement for PhilSys guided by these GPPB issuances and resolutions which are in accordance with RA9184. The procurement of the Systems Integrator is in compliance with GPPB rules,” he added.
The SI is part of the four major procurement blocks for PhilSys. The three other procurement blocks have already been completed.
The other three procurement blocks are the 5,000 registration kits, card production, and the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) that is considered as the “brain” of PhilSys.
PSA said the Expression of Interest (EOI) Conference for the Systems Integrator (SI) on May 19 attracted 56 prospective bidders.
The Issuance of the Notice of Award followed by the signing of the contract is scheduled not later than August, in time for the start of the registration in the fourth quarter.
PSA documents indicated that the start of the opening of registration in October, the first phase of delivery that will include registration requirements, is due three months from the Notice to Proceed which is targeted to be released by the end of July.
“The SI shall provide cutting-edge technologies that will ensure seamless integration between the registration kits, ABIS, and card production,” Mapa added.
The PSA also said it is currently developing registration protocols that are strictly adherent to health measures prescribed by the Department of Health for the registration.
These measures include physical distancing, sanitation of areas and equipment, and provision of personal protective equipment to registration staff.
PSA was mandated to implement the provisions of the Philippine Identification System Act (Republic Act 11055) which was signed by President Duterte in August 2018.
PhilSys is expected to improve the implementation of social welfare programs, expand access to government services, and promote financial inclusion. PSA aims to register almost all Filipinos to PhilSys by the end of 2022.