Easier norms for public-pvt projects soon

NEW DELHI: The government is drawing out common norms for pre-qualification of bidders for infrastructure projects that are to be undertaken jointly with the private sector. The aim is to work out broad, generic guidelines for public private participation projects that encourage transparency.

The guidelines would prescribe a minimum requirement with a view to learn from previous experience.

At present, various infrastructure ministries evaluate bids through different mechanisms but the government wants broad parameters to be laid down for pre-qualification and short listing of bidders.

Officials said the parameters would simplify the process of technical and financial evaluation and would also eliminate the possibility of subjective evaluation of various proposals.

The power ministry has recently decided to follow tariff-based bidding under which a developer offering the lowest power tariff is allowed to go ahead with setting up of the power projects.

The National Highways of India (NHAI) is following a three-stage bidding for awarding road construction projects. Selection at the prequalification stage is done on the basis of projects executed, net worth, net cash accrual and equity financing plan.

In the case of port projects, experience and net worth in the request for qualification (RFQ). Officials said the experience from the recent bidding process for Mumbai and Delhi airports indicate that shortlisting at the RFQ stage is important.