site.btaMinister Refutes Allegations about Flawed Procedure for Hemus Motorway Construction

Minister Refutes Allegations about Flawed Procedure for Hemus Motorway Construction

Sofia, January 12 (BTA) - Regional Development and Public Works Minister Liliyana Pavlova said on Thursday that recent statements by Democrats for Strong Bulgaria leader Radan Kanev about a flawed contract award procedure for the completion of the Hemus Motorway were false and manipulative and were aimed to tarnish the image of the government and the Road Infrastructure Agency.

On Wednesday, Kanev said that the incumbents had again "given away" construction contracts for the Hemus Motorway to "the Borissov-Peevski partnership." The reference was to Prime Minister Boyko Borissov (GERB) and controversial businessman and MP Delyan Peevski (Movement for Rights and Freedoms). "A year after the current government ostentatiously terminated public procurement procedures over suspected links to Peevski, the first bidding was again won by the same political partnership between GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms," Kanev said. He argued that the procedure was a textbook example of manipulated bidding in which the winner was predetermined. He said nine out of 11 bidders were removed to ensure that "the Borissov-Peevski partnership" would win again.

In her reaction, Pavlova said that the procedure was in accordance with the Public Procurement Act. There were 11 bidders, 10 of whom were admitted to the stage where financial offers were unveiled. The offers were considered in due manner and the procedure ended with the selection of a single contractor, Pavlova explained.

The price is "far lower than last time, when we heard those appeals," she said. The minister noted that the 22.8 million leva which the Council of Ministers decided to provide to the Road Infrastructure Agency on Wednesday is actually meant for five separate components of the Hemus Motorway. It is not true that the money is for the first segment only, Pavlova said.

She noted that bidders may lodge an appeal until January 20 if they do not accept the decision. She said the project should start as soon as possible.