Maharashtra tightens tender rules with new contractor rating system and deadline compliance

The Maharashtra government is set to introduce a new performancerating system for contractors working on major infrastructure projects with the aim of improving quality ensuring timely completion and increasing accountability reported the PTIThe Public Works Department PWD has issued a Government Resolution GR introducing an objective system to assess contractors based on their actual performance during project executionPWD Minister Shivendrasinh Bhosale said that the new system would make contractor evaluation more transparent objective and based on verifiable project records the news agency reportedContractors will be assessed on several parameters including the quality of work adherence to deadlines safety standards compliance with contractual conditions and overall project managementThe state government hopes the system will also reduce disputes caused by subjective assessments and encourage contractors with a strong record to participate in future projectsApplicable to projects worth Rs 500 cr and aboveThe new system will apply to upcoming tenders for projects with an estimated cost or tender value of Rs 500 crore or moreIt will cover projects undertaken by several state departments government corporations development authorities and local bodies These include the PWD Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority municipal corporations CIDCO MahaMetro MHADA and the Water Resources Department among others according to the PTIContractors bidding for eligible projects will have to submit valid performance certificates for qualifying projects that they have completed or are currently executingQuality gets highest weightageEach eligible project will be assessed out of 100 marks Quality of work 60 marks Completion within the stipulated time 30 marks Maintenance period and overall performance 10 marksQuality will carry the highest weightage The assessment will include compliance with approved specifications and quality assurance plans laboratory and field test results closure of nonconformance reports and the structural and functional performance of the projectThe performance certificate will be issued by an officer of at least the rank of Chief Engineer or equivalentContractors to be placed in three categoriesBased on the weighted average of their performance scores contractors will be placed into three categories Green Category More than 80 marks Yellow Category More than 60 and less than 80 marks Red Category Less than 60 marksGreen Category contractors will continue to be governed by the normal tender conditionsFor Yellow Category contractors performance security and additional performance security will be fixed at 110 times the amount specified in the tender documentsContractors placed in the Red Category will be ineligible to participate in the tender processPerformance certificates to be valid for 12 monthsThe performance certificate will remain valid for 12 months Without a valid certificate an eligible project submitted to establish technical eligibility will not be consideredFor ongoing projects listed as lsquoWork in Handrsquo the absence of a valid performance certificate will also affect the calculation of the contractors bid capacityBhosale said completing major infrastructure projects on time was not enough and that projects must also be safe durable and of high qualityThe government expects the new evidencebased system to reward contractors with a strong track record while restricting those who repeatedly fail to meet required standardsOfficials said the move would also help ensure better use of public money and improve the overall quality of infrastructure projects across Maharashtrawith PTI inputs