Kolkata, July 15 -- The Bengal government has barred departments from repeatedly awarding contracts to the same agency without inviting fresh tenders. Departments must initiate the tendering process at least three months before the expiry of an existing contract to ensure fairness and transparency.
In a notification issued on Wednesday, Chief Secretary Manoj Agrawal laid down guidelines for the timely initiation of tenders and the prevention of routine contract extensions.
The notification said it had been observed that government departments and offices under their administrative control were frequently seeking Finance Department approval to extend contracts with agencies engaged for various works. In some cases, authorities had approved such extensions without prior consultation with the Finance Department.
"Such practices constitute a violation of established financial discipline and compromise the integrity of the competitive bidding process," the notification said.
It emphasised that competitive tendering ensures the selection of the most suitable bidder, while repeated extensions or re-awarding work to the same agency undermine transparency and fair competition.
The notification also made it clear that proposals for extension or renewal of existing contracts will no longer be entertained. It warned that failure to invite fresh tenders within the stipulated time frame would not be accepted under any circumstances.
Any extension granted without due approval, or delay in floating fresh tenders, will be treated as a violation of financial regulations and appropriate action will be taken against those responsible, the notification said.
The directive will also apply to local bodies, state public sector undertakings (PSUs), statutory bodies and other parastatal organisations.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.