Wipro to develop MP govt tenders free of cost

Government tender notices will be a rare thing in newspapers in Madhya Pradesh soon. Wipro Ltd has clinched a deal for developing the state government's electronic tendering project, which will not involve any cost to the state government.

Wipro will set up a data centre at the Madhya Pradesh Agency for Promoting Information Technology (MAPIT) and bear the project cost, according to a government source, and a fee will be paid to the company out of the amount charged from participants in e-tenders.

The MAPIT board of directors in its meeting held earlier this month approved the project. "Madhya Pradesh government departments float tender notices of at least Rs 6 crore through Madhya Pradesh Madhyam in newspapers each year," said the government spokesperson.

The state government conceptualised the e-tendering project in 2002 but it did not take off. Later, in 2005 the state government floated tenders for developing the e-tendering project, which was envisaged to be implemented initially by the public works department. The state government will implement the e-tendering system in all departments.

Applitech Solutions, C1 India, Wipro and ITI participated in the pre-bid process. Wipro and Bharat Electronics Ltd submitted the final bids.

"Wipro has been shortlisted for the project," a government source told Business Standard, adding, "the project will be implemented in a phased manner initially in the public works department, water resources department and public health engineering departments, etc."

Wipro will supply customisation, installation, operation and maintenance, and training for the web-enabled electronic procurement software system and e-tendering system, procurement of stores, services, works and sales of stores.

The entire system includes hardware, software, related equipment, along with telecom infrastructure, including a specified directed Internet-leased port from ISP, provision of round-the-clock power back-up, etc. The company will set up a data centre for the purpose and will set up, maintain and operated the above facilities for a period of five years.

The e-tendering system was introduced first time by directorate of public relations (DPR) in 2002. The project was cancelled in the absence of proper terms of references, business models, etc.

The new e-tendering process will levy a one-time per download fee from the participant. Each time the tender download will generate a serial number and will deduct an online-fee.

"With this system a huge amount spent on publicising the documents will be reduced and the process will have a transparency," said the source. At present the Madhya Pradesh Laghu Udyog Nigam has adopted the e-tendering system on its own.