Warrant against processing plant decision sought

A company yesterday called on the Civil Court to stop hospital authorities from implementing the director of contracts' final decision, taken on December 24, in connection with the infectious waste decontamination and processing plant at St Luke's Hospital.

IWT Group Malta Limited filed an application for a warrant of prohibitory injunction against the director general of contracts, the chief government medical officer and Sarrebico Medical Supplies Limited.

The court was also requested to prohibit the authorities from commencing works in respect of this tender on the basis that the award of the tender was null and void as a number of irregularities had occurred.

IWT Group claimed that the director had failed to forward important documentation in connection with its offer to the Finance Department, which meant it was not given a fair hearing.

IWT Group had also been precluded from making its scientific and technical observations at the hearing.

The company claimed that the parties in the award of the tender had failed to carry out a technological assessment of its offer.

A Health Department representative had visited foreign plants that used the microwave system (such as the system adopted by Sarrebico Medical Supplies Limited, the successful tenderer), but had not visited plants making use of the rotoclaving system, such as that offered by IWT Group.

The Health Department's consultant was prejudiced in favour of the system that had been selected, and the director of contracts' decision was completely incorrect and based on wrong considerations, the company claimed.

The authorities were given three days to file a reply.

Dr Vince Galea and Dr Kris Busietta signed the application.