Contracts awarded on merits - WSC

The two tenders submitted for the construction of the Sewage Treatment Plant in Gozo that were cheaper than the successful offer were unacceptable because they did not meet the tender conditions in a professional and valid manner, the Water Services Corporation (WSC) said yesterday.

In fact the courts refused to issue a prohibitory injunction by one of the failed bidders to block the successful bid, the corporation added.

The WSC was referring to remarks made by Labour Party leader Alfred Sant on Sunday. Speaking on radio, Dr Sant called for a public inquiry into affairs at the WSC. Among other allegations, he claimed that two contractors who were given most of the corporation's contracts were falling behind in their work and increasing the expenditure.

His comments were made in the wake of ministerial criticism of the board for its handling of cost overruns.

The corporation yesterday said it uses a number of contractors for trenching works for water mains in Gozo. However, it uses only one contractor for similar works on sewer mains because when a public call for tenders was issued, only one contractor submitted an offer for sewer works in Gozo.

Every tender, it said, was adjudicated on its own merits and it was against Contracts Department regulations to exclude a contractor simply because that contractor had been awarded previous contracts.

The WSC said that the work being carried out at present on the Gozo sewage treatment plant was being done under the supervision of WSC technical experts and consultants.

The concrete tanks currently had holes caused by the use of tie-rods, but this was normal practice in concrete work. The holes would be sealed under supervision according to proper concrete works procedures.

The WSC also denied that Investments Minister Austin Gatt had asked chairman Michael Falzon to take action over supposed defects, as alleged by Dr Sant.