The process of procuring blowout preventers (BOP) for offshore in ONGC began with publication of NIT on 20.07.2010 but ended with suspension of top executive about five years later on 23.02.2015.
In this tender, the technical bids of three companies were opened on 11.03.2011. These were Cameron France; Continent Project Technologies Pvt Ltd, Singapore; and Worldwide Oilfield Machine, Dubai (WOM). Two companies – Continent Project and WOM – were shortlisted and their bids were opened on 15.12.2011. WOM emerged as the lowest bidder.
Instead of placing order on WOM, a committee (EPC) in ONGC desired that the safety of similar projects handled by WOM should be certified by a 3rd party inspection agency. This too was done in June 2012. But, EPC formed another committee for re-verifying the suitability of WOM’s offer. EPC this time desired that a policy be formulated on how to deal with the procurement of old vs new BOP.
