More and more problems: How and why Autoceste FBiH received an order to annul the procurement for the construction of the Kvanj tunnel!

(Patria) - Problems are piling up at the Public Company Autoceste FBiH. A solution has not yet been found for the bridge rupture in Počitelj, nor is it known how the damage will be repaired, and now an order has been officially issued to annul the procurement for the construction of the Kvanj tunnel! Time will show that the responsibility for the situation on Corridor Vc lies entirely with HDZ BiH, as their personnel hold the most significant positions related to this project, especially with the arrival of Denis Lasić as the director of Autoceste FBiH.

But what is actually at stake when it comes to the construction of the Kvanj tunnel?

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) launched an investigation in November 2021 due to suspicions of possible corruption, fraud, or other illegal activities in the bid evaluation process.

Given that the outcome of the investigation could not be predicted, and fearing the cancellation of approved credit and grant funds due to the actions of the previous management from 2016 to 2021, when Adnan Terzić was at the head of Autoceste and the bid evaluation committee, the Management led by Elmedin Voloder annulled the procurement procedure by Decision of March 25, 2022.

One of the reasons for annulling the procurement was the inadequate project documentation, even for the conditions of the Yellow FIDIC Book contract.

The conclusion of the OLAF investigation from October 2022 confirmed the Management's Decision to annul and repeat the tender for the construction of the Buna – Kvanj section.

Then, a new procedure for the construction of this section followed, and in parallel, procurement for the preparation of a supplemented conceptual design with exploratory works, as well as the main project and biodiversity, which was a condition of the EIB for awarding the works contract.

The procurement for the selection of the designer was completed in May 2023, and the contract was awarded to the consortium that submitted the technically sound and most favorable bid.
This fulfilled all contractual prerequisites for financing and all preparatory actions for the works contract to proceed smoothly.

However, the current Management, led by HDZ's Denis Lasić, declared this contract null and void on August 21, 2023, because it had not entered into force.

Even the fact that the consultant had fulfilled all contractual obligations for the effectiveness of the contract was not considered, but Autoceste did not send an official notification.

The call for applications for pre-qualification of bidders for the construction of the section was published on August 9, 2022, with a deadline for submitting applications on November 28, 2022.

The evaluation of the submitted applications was completed, but due to the political change of the Autoceste Management, when Voloder was dismissed and Lasić appointed, that procedure and the conducted evaluation were suspended.

Lasić even dismissed the bid evaluation committee on June 23, 2023, without explanation, and appointed a new one that re-evaluated the bids. The results of the two evaluations were completely different, as certain companies were favored.

The annulment of the contract for the preparation of the necessary project and study documentation, the inclusion of these obligations in the construction contract, the extension of the deadline for the construction of the section, and other demands made by the current Management, as well as the unprofessional re-evaluation of bids, resulted in the annulment of the procedure again.

With this procedure, Autoceste has once again betrayed the trust of the financiers, which will become clear in the future, and whether the third time will be the charm for contracting the construction of this section remains to be seen.

(A.Č.Z.)