A DOZEN companies have submitted bids for the new printing tender for next months ballot papers and the bids ranged from N$850 333 to N$4,6 million. Only four printing companies submitted bids the first time round.The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) re-advertised the tender on Friday after it last week suddenly withdrew the printing job from NamPrint, a company owned by the ruling Swapo Party. The ECN bowed to pressure from opposition parties, which had threatened to obtain a High Court interdict and to boycott the elections set for November 27 and 28. They argued that there was a conflict of interest due to Swapos ownership of NamPrint.
The ECN however cited a different reason for the tender withdrawal. It said political parties including Swapo had insisted that the ballot papers should be printed in full colour.
The original tender specification was for black and white, as the ECN wanted to save costs, ECN Chairman Victor Tonchi told reporters on Thursday.
Yesterdays opening of the bids drew a large crowd as Charles Sihipo, Control Officer at the Tender Board of the Ministry of Finance, read out the 12 company names and their tenders.
Bidders barely had two and a half working days to prepare.
Unperturbed by the drama around it, NamPrint once again submitted a tender for N$1 880 059,69 for both elections.
Solitaire Press put in an offer of N$1 420 025 for both elections.
Ren-Form cc of South Africa gave two tender options, one for N$900 000 and another for N$1 250 000.
Another South African printer, Puisano, made an offer for N$1 484 384 for both elections, but excluding VAT.
A third South African company, Smith & Ouzman, which competed in the earlier tender against NamPrint, submitted a tender of N$1 175 844.70 including VAT.
Windhoek company John Meinert wanted to bid, but informed the Tender Board that the time was too short to make an offer.
Cifa Enterprises of Khomasdal tendered for N$1,6 million, including VAT.
The highest offer came from Star Precast cc of Windhoek, which quoted N$4 609 222,34.
Swaco Industries Namibia, also based in Windhoek, quoted the lowest amount N$850 333.
Three other Windhoek companies also tendered. They are Universal Print Group Namibia (N$1 163 200), Style Graphics (N$1 074 560) and LithoTech (N$1 671 879.94). LithoTech however also offered a second option with a lower figure of N$1 493 422.64.
According to the tender specifications stipulated by the ECN, the ballot papers for the presidential election must be on blue security paper and 1,6 million ballot papers must be printed.
For the National Assembly election, 1,6 million ballot papers must be printed too, but on yellow security paper.
All ballot papers must be bound in booklets of 100 each and serial numbers must start at 0 000 001 and end at 1 600 000. In the booklets, the ballot papers must have a counterfoil, which is perforated on one side so that the counterfoil with the serial number printed on it remains in the booklet.
Delivery of the ballot papers to the ECN should be no later than October 30, the ECN said.
Bidders had to provide a comprehensive security plan with the quotation with regard to the safety and security of the ballot papers during the printing process and must also have enough space at their premises to accommodate party agents of the registered parties to observe the printing process.
The Namibian
Post published in: Economy