JP Autoceste FBiH Director Đenan Salčin: There is lobbying and pressure on management

After the Patria agency published a text stating that JP Autoceste FBiH awarded the contract for highway maintenance in FBiH for the next four years to a consortium of companies Bosman and Dobojputevi, even though the bid from the state-owned company Sarajevoputevi was more than three million KM cheaper, a reaction came from Autoceste FBiH. Incidentally, the Patria agency contacted the director of Autoceste FBiH, Đenan Salčin, with the intention of finding out more details about the awarding of the contract, but he did not answer our calls.

– JP Autoceste FBiH did not eliminate the bid from "Sarajevoputevi" d.d. Sarajevo; rather, the management of "Sarajevoputevi" d.d. Sarajevo itself did, as they failed to submit the required documentation in accordance with the tender procedure and the Law on Public Procurement.

Two bids were received for the announced tender from companies based in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. One from Sarajevoputevi dd based in Sarajevo and Dobojputevi dd DOBOJ - Jug.

The Public Procurement Commission of JP Autoceste FBiH conducted the legally prescribed procedure and determined that Sarajevoputevi dd did not meet the tender procedure requirements stipulated by the Law on Public Procurement.

In accordance with the valid legal regulations, "Sarajevoputevi" d.d. Sarajevo has the right to appeal, which is reviewed by the Appeals Office. The Federal Ministry of Transport and Communications is competent for the operations of both companies, JP Autoceste FBiH and Sarajevoputevi dd, and any potential ambiguities should have been resolved within that framework. Therefore, not in the media, but through the legal appeal procedure.

For the public's information, we are obliged to clarify that this procurement, i.e., the tender for highway maintenance services, is subject to the Law on Public Procurement, and that JP Autoceste must conduct and adhere to the entire procedure in accordance with this Law.

We fully stand behind the legality of conducting this specific procedure.

– Without intending to evaluate the past work of JP Autoceste FBiH, in which I did not participate, my personal commitment is that transparency and legality in the work of JP Autoceste FBiH are the fundamental postulates we insist on, despite all the lobbying and pressure on the management. I have the support for such an approach and the trust placed in me to perform this very responsible duty, and we will not abandon legality and transparency in our work – stated the director of JP Autoceste FBiH, Đenan Salčin.

"Sarajevoputevi" d.d. Sarajevo and all others who, for these or other reasons, believe they have been harmed by any of our actions, have legal means to protect their potential rights, but pressure, threats, and any illegal arguments will not be fruitful.