The Ministry of Digital Economy has actually issued an information regarding misleading media reports on the procurement of power circulation systems (PDUs) for computer systems and equipment systems at Divisional Secretariats under the Electronic National Identity Card (e-NIC) Project.Issuing a statement, the Ministry noted that the procurement of PDUs was carried out with the objective of ensuring the safe and sustainable distribution of electrical power to computers and devices systems previously distributed to Divisional Secretariats across the country.These units are important for the prompt application of personal registration and biometric data collection as part of the e-NIC effort.
Different cost-effective choices were likewise considered during this procurement, the declaration added.It even more noted that the bidding files for this procurement were prepared based upon recommendations from a Technical Evaluation Committee making up experts in electrical power systems and IT networking, representing the University of Moratuwa and the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA).
Technical requirements were developed accordingly to meet the needed requirements.
Based upon these specs, the procurement of 700 equipment systems was started by the Project Procurement Committee, under the guidelines of the National Procurement Commission, the Ministry stated.The Ministry of Digital Economy stated thinking about the high-value and sensitive nature of the devices utilized in the e-NIC processsuch as gadgets used to collect biometric dataas well as the security of both federal government officers and service receivers, the Committee went with industrial-grade PDUs rather of domestic-grade units.Accordingly, bids were welcomed from skilled suppliers on April 29, 2025 under the tender number DRP/e-NIC/PRO/ 2025/06, by releasing paper notifications in all 3 languages.The statement from the Ministry said, This was simply an open and transparent National Competitive Bidding (NCB) process, and was not targeted at any particular company.
Of the 11 business that acquired the tender files, 8 sent sealed quotes.
The proposed prices of the bidders suggested a large difference, which was publicly divulged in a way accessible to all participants.The examination of the eight bids was performed in 3 phases, in line with Procurement Guideline 7.1:1.
Preliminary Examination of Bids to confirm minimum qualifications2.
Detailed Technical Evaluation3.
Post-Qualification EvaluationAccording to Clause 7.1 of the Government Procurement Guidelines, the choice of the bidder need to not be based exclusively on the lowest cost, but rather on the Substantially Responsive Lowest Bid.
Some bidders who provided lower prices failed to satisfy initial or technical requirements and were therefore disqualified from further evaluation.Among the technically certified quotes, the picked vendor proposed a price of approximately Rs.
50 million (leaving out VAT) for 700 systems, fulfilling all required technical specs.
This was not the lowest quote, but it was the most affordable amongst those that fulfilled all technical and procedural requirements.
The picked quote was the fifth most affordable amongst the 8, with 3 other quotes offering even higher costs.
It ought to also be kept in mind that transportation expenses for these unitseach possibly weighing up to 3 kgto all Divisional Secretariats across the country are included in the quoted price.Before the final award, under Clause 8.5 of the Procurement Guidelines, any appeals sent by disqualified celebrations needed to be reviewed.
2 such appeals were gotten, and the pertinent Appeals Committee concluded that it could not agree with the claims.
Its final suggestion was therefore forwarded to the Ministry of Digital Economy to make a final decision.
As of now, no final decision has actually been made by the Ministry, and the choice procedure stays under review.The Ministry also highlighted that the existing status of this procurement is only the identification of the significantly responsive most affordable bid amongst the qualified proposals.The Digital Economy Ministry stated therefore, it declines the claims flowing in some media alleging that the government acquired uncommonly expensive electrical units or that favoritism was shown towards a particular company.It even more reaffirmed that all staying procurement related to the Electronic National Identity Card task will continue to be managed under the guidance of the Ministry of Digital Economy, with high openness, adherence to requirements, and cost-effectiveness, as has been the practice so far.