Call to re-issue hospital tender

Members of a consortium yesterday filed an application in the First Hall of the Civil Court claiming there had been irregularities in the award of a tender by the Foundation for Medical Services and the Director of Contracts.

JF Security & Consultancy Services Ltd, Alberta Projects Ltd and Sterling Parks Ltd, all members of the consortium JAS JV, together with Bonnici Bros Contractors Ltd, filed their application against the foundation, the Director of Contracts and Parksec Ltd.

The four companies said they had participated in a call for offers in a tender issued by the foundation for the provision of external security services and car park and traffic management services at Mater Dei Hospital.

They said they were informed that the tender had been awarded to a rival consortium, namely Parksec Ltd, and that the deal had been finalised. However, the companies claimed that, subsequently, the conditions of the contract that had been signed had changed radically from those indicated in the original tender document. Such change was illegal and abusive and the foundation was legally bound to re-issue the tender again.

The court was asked to rule that the tender award was abusive and illegal and to order the Director of Contracts to issue a new call for tenders. The companies also requested payment of damages.

The application was signed by lawyers Adrian Delia and John Gauci.