NTA floats Rs 7.5 Crore tender for 24×7 security at HQ, regional offices
NTA requires bidders to have prior experience in providing security at high-security establishments; the contract is initially for two years
Amid the NEET exam paper leak row, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has called for a tender worth Rs 7.5 crore to hire a professional security agency for 24X7 surveillance at its headquarters in Minto Road in Delhi, regional offices in Okhla and other notified locations.
A Hindustan Times report said the tender was floated on July 25, asking for bids to be submitted till 3 pm on August 17.
Eligibility criteria
The report quoting the request for proposal (RFP) document says the security agency that bags the tender will be required to provide “comprehensive security services” to protect NTA personnel, visitors, assets, premises, confidential examination material, server rooms, strong rooms, warehouses, record rooms and other critical infrastructure where sensitive examination records are stored.
The contract is initially meant for two years and will be extended by two additional one-year terms based on performance.
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The proposal says bidders must have at least five years of experience in professional security services, an average annual turnover of at least Rs 10 crore over the past three financial years and prior experience of employment in high-security establishments like central government organisations, examination agencies, universities, airports, hospitals, and metro systems.
The report said that the estimated value of the contract is Rs 7.5 crore excluding GST. NTA, however, can increase or decrease the deployment requirements or divide the work if necessary.
QCBS model
Bidders are also required to show an earnest money deposit of Rs 15 lakh and a performance security equivalent to 5 per cent of the contract value.
Citing the “sensitive nature of NTA’s examination ecosystem and confidentiality requirements” NTA has opted for a Quality-and-Cost Based Selection (QCBS) model for the bidding process.
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HT quoting the document says, the exam body will give 70 per cent weightage to technical quality and 30 per cent to financial bids under the evaluation process. Agencies that security a least of 70 out of 100 marks in the technical evaluation will qualify for the financial round.
What is the job?
The report says that the selected agency will regulate entry and exit at the NTA establishments, ensure that “only authorised persons enter restricted areas”, prevent unauthorised access, maintain visitor records and deploy hand-held and door-frame metal detectors at entrances and confidential locations.
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Security personnel of the agency will also be required to secure examination material, IT infrastructure, serve rooms and storage facilities. The NTA says they must maintain strict confidentiality on information regarding examination materials and security arrangements even after the end of the contract.
The tender call by the premier education agency comes amid massive public outrage against exam paper leaks in the country and resultant attempts by the government to bring accused to justice and introduce a Bill to tighten rules.