States Public Works Department (PWD) have been empowered to award highway projects costing Rs. 5-cr to Rs.300-cr involving the execution of road and bridges under centrally financed schemes and that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) itself will invite tenders for works involving more than Rs. 300cr. However, the State PWD's authority to call for and finalise tenders for road and bridge projects on National Highways that cost up to Rs. 5-cr will remain. The department has been directed to go by the requisite bidding document, procedures and guidelines of MoRTH while inviting tenders and fixing the qualification of contractors, a communication from MoRTH to PWD Secretaries dealing with National Highways for centrally financed schemes. The new guidelines have been issued by MoRTH in supersession of the previous guidelines, including the circular issued on November 13, 2014, after conducting a thorough review of the existing norms. Sources said the State PWD stood to benefit enormously from the new guidelines. Tenders have to be invited through e-procurement in accordance with the guidelines for the implementation of comprehensive end-to-end e-procurement issued by the Department of Expenditure. The opening and evaluation of bids for works costing more than Rs. 5-cr up to Rs. 100-cr should be carried out by a five-member evaluation committee. The same composition will be applicable to the screening committee for works with a sanctioned cost of more than Rs. 300-cr to Rs.500cr, claimed sources.
