The procurement of winter school uniforms in government schools of Chandigarh is likely to be delayed since the majority of these schools have failed to get any direct response to the tenders floated by the education department for the purpose earlier this month.The last date of sending bids for the procurement in respective schools was September 27 (Saturday).
However, all eyes are on the vendors’ response at a common venue. To facilitate the suppliers, the education department allowed the vendors to submit their tenders for different schools at the common venue (Government Girls Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 18) till Saturday evening rather than applying in each school directly.
A senior education official said the government schools would come to know about bids received by Monday as the department officials were currently sorting the bids per school. However, if a school fails to get minimum four bids, it will have to float tenders again, which will delay the procurement process.It is not the first time the schools got lukewarm response to tenders.
Last year, the schools had to issue tenders four times for placing orders of winter unifor m. The procurement process had got delayed by several months by then as winter uniforms were distributed in February this year.
Same was the case with summer uniforms this session which were given to students last month only.
Government Model Senior Secondary (GMSSS-8) principal Renu Puri said, “The school did not get any direct response from uniform vendors. But we are expecting some response at the common venue.”
Same was the case with summer uniforms this session which were given to students last month only.
Government Model Senior Secondary (GMSSS-8) principal Renu Puri said, “The school did not get any direct response from uniform vendors. But we are expecting some response at the common venue.”
Vinod Sharma, principal, Government Model High School, Sector 34, said, “If we fail to manage to get minimum four bids, we will have to float tenders again and in that situation the schools will not be able to distribute the uniforms to students before January next year.”
In Chandigarh, more than 1 lakh students are eligible for free school uniform under the Right to Education Act, 2009. Schools blame the government policy of keeping the procurement prices low as the main reason behind the dismal response from the suppliers.
The procurement rates for winter uniforms this time are the same as last year. The ceiling is Rs 350 per set for Classes 1 to 5 and RS 425 per set for Classes 6 to 8. Winter uniforms comprise full-sleeve shirt and trousers for boys and shirt and tunic for girls.
In case schools mange to get the minimum four bids, the final bidding will start on Monday afternoon following which the lowest bidder will get the supply order.