site.btaConstruction on Motorways Stalls Because of Contractors' Claims for High Material Prices – Regional Development Minister

There is hardly any construction under way on the motorways because of contractors' claims about the prices of materials and equipment used. Therefore, a working group and other experts will prepare opinions by the end of the month on these cases and whether there are violations of the Public Procurement Act, Andrey Tsekov, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, told the relevant parliamentary committee on Thursday.

It is likely that contracts with construction companies will be terminated due to unforeseeable change of circumstances (clausula rebus sic stantibus) or for non-performance of contracts. The companies are adamant that they cannot work at the previous prices and are therefore working slowly and pro forma. Only one contractor has said it is willing to refund advances received for work, the minister said.

The purpose of the road condition inspections is to protect the public interest before the warranty periods of the objects have expired, Tsekov said.

These inspections are carried out within the warranty period of the sites, and on those whose warranty period will expire soon. If necessary, additional tests will be made on the condition of the roads. I am not disputing the results of the inspections made by the caretaker government, but it does not matter because after the expiry of the warranty period the state can do nothing but repair, Tsekov said.

GERB is preparing a legislative amendment to allow representatives of the non-governmental sector to participate in the inspections. It is noteworthy that the inspections are made in the summer, when the roads and the asphalt on them is the most elastic, said Mladen Shishkov, MP from GERB-UDF.

Former regional minister Grozdan Karadzhov said during the committee's meeting that the methodology for selecting contractors to repair road facilities gives priority to the highest bids, not the lowest proposed prices.