A ferry public body failed to upload a key “non-collusion” document during its tender process for two new ferries.
Ferry procurement body Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal) did not upload the document, which asks shipyards hoping to bid for a ferry contract to state they have not bribed or colluded with others to reduce the competitiveness of the tender exercise.
The error was only fixed yesterday after a potential bidder contacted Cmal to highlight the missing document, according to the Scotsman.
One of the ferries in the tender is planned for the Hebrides network.
The Scottish Government has come under fire over contracts Cmal tendered in 2015 to Ferguson Marine shipyard in Glasgow for two ships.
The vessels will now be at least five years overdue and £150 million over budget.
Key non-collusion document missing
On October 27, the tender process began on two new ferries for the Clyde and Hebrides networks, but the error was only recently noticed.
Cmal’s “certificate of non-collusion” asks bidders to not work with others to fix the amount they bid.
It also asks bidders to confirm they will not bribe anyone during the process.
The form also asks bidders to say whether proposals will be impacted by any government-owned subsidies.
Publicly-owned Ferguson Marine has not ruled out bidding on the two new ferries.
In March, the government sparked anger when they snubbed Ferguson’s and instead awarded contracts for two new boats to a Turkish shipyard.
A spokeswoman for Cmal said: “The questions within the SPD(S) cover the same information and assurances as a certificate of non-collusion.
“However, further to a question posted via the tender website, we uploaded the form this morning.”
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