(a) whether MTNL invited a tender for the supply of towels from reputed manufacturers/their authorized distributors;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the reasons for inviting the tender and the date when such a tender was invited last;
(d) the quantity and quality of towels purchased this time and last time alongwith the value thereof;
(e) whether the samples given by bidders were subjected to IIT test; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (SHRI TAPAN SIKDAR)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) The tender for procurement of 48,696 towels was opened on 17.04.2001. Five bidders
participated in the tender. The estimate value of the tender was Rs. 60 lakhs. Financial bids
of four bidders were opened after ascertaining their techno-commercial compliance and conformity
of their samples to tender specification.
(c) The tender was invited to procure good quality towels at competitive price after staff
union demanded that towels be provided to employees instead of cash reimbursement. The last
procurement was done in the year 1997 by respective area GMs on quotation basis.
(d) Quantity and value for the current tender was as mentioned in part (b). Prior to 1998,
all area GMs wee procuring towels separately and quality was based on their respective judgement.
(e) No, Sir. It was tested by Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA), Ministry
of Textiles, Government of India.
(f) The samples of four techno-commercially complaint bidders were got tested from NITRA
(Ministry of Textiles, Government of India) and all of them were found to meet the requirement
of testing parameter.