Security contract award challenged at OPR

Amalgamated Security Services Limited has challenged the award of a security services contract by the Estate Management and Business Development Company Limited (EMBD) to SWAT Estate Police Company Limited.

According to an order issued by the Office of Procurement Regulation’s (OPR) Hearing Panel, the application for review was filed on July 8 and seeks to challenge EMBD’s decision to award the contract for security services in its Central Zone, comprising lands formerly owned by Caroni (1975) Limited.

The panel has ordered EMBD to serve its June 30 notice of decision on the applicant by 4 p.m. on July 13 and file submissions responding to issues of jurisdiction by 4 p.m. on July 14. EMBD has also been directed to file and serve its formal reply by the same deadline.

The challenge centres on EMBD’s decision to award the contract to SWAT Estate Police Company Limited. The contract took effect on July 1, and the OPR has begun reviewing whether the procurement process complied with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act.