In a significant development, the Board of Directors of the Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) has taken the decision to annul its original selection of the tender winner for the construction of Phase II of Metro Line D. The decision stems from the emergence of new information obtained during the scrutiny of details regarding one of the references provided by the winning bidder, a consortium led by Subterra.

The consortium comprised of PORR, VINCI, and Marti (PVM) was disqualified from the competition due to non-compliance with the tender documentation conditions. However, the PVM group contested DPP’s decision, highlighting purported discrepancies in Subterra’s references before the Office for the Protection of Economic Competition (ÚOHS). Although the ÚOHS subsequently annulled the selection of the winner, this decision has yet to attain legal validity.

In the process of verifying the challenged references, DPP encountered a situation where none of the entities listed in the references by the winner could definitively validate aspects of the references contested by the complainant. Consequently, the board opted to rescind the selection.

Armed with the newfound information, DPP’s award committee will now undertake a reassessment of the winning bid, prioritizing transparency and prudence in the tendering process. Petr Witowski, Chairman of the Board and CEO, underscored the organization’s commitment to ensuring a transparent and diligent tendering process, stating, “It is crucial for us that this order is tendered out transparently and with the care of a good businessman.”

The construction of Prague’s new metro line commenced in 2022, with the current focus on the construction of a one-kilometer section between Pankrác and Olbrachtova stations. The second phase, which was the subject of the now-cancelled tender, aims to connect Olbrachtova and Nové Dvory stations, marking a significant expansion of the city’s metro network.

The cancellation of the tender underscores the importance of upholding stringent standards of compliance and transparency in large-scale infrastructure projects, ensuring the integrity and efficiency of public procurement processes. As DPP moves forward with the reassessment, stakeholders will keenly observe developments, anticipating a resolution that aligns with principles of accountability and fair competition.

Article by Prague Forum