The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is seeking bidders to five information technology projects worth P235.5 million.
On October 21 and 23, the BOC’s Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) invited suppliers and contractors to bid for the following projects: managed-high speed network and Internet connectivity; Oracle SuperCluster subscription; BOC Data Center and Network Rehabilitation; and Data Warehouse and Analytics Solution.
In addition, an advisory posted on the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System website on October 23 noted the BOC request for quotation to provide a vessel tracking monitoring system.
Of the total approved budget, P102 million is being allotted for the managed-high speed network connectivity; P65 million for the data warehouse and analytics solution; P33 million for Oracle subscription; and P35 million for data center and network rehabilitation. Another P500,000 was approved for the vessel tracking monitoring system request for quotation.
Interested bidders may obtain further information and get the bidding documents from the agency’s BAC Secretariat.
A pre-bid conference for the first four projects will be held on October 30; the deadline for submission of bids as well as the opening of bids is scheduled for November 13. Bidding for the request for quotation for a vessel tracking monitoring system, on the other hand, will be closed on October 30.
In a chance interview with PortCalls on October 22, BOC deputy commissioner for Assessment and Operations Atty. Agaton Teodoro Uvero said BOC is now gearing most of it projects toward automation.
Just this year, BOC implemented the mandatory submission of airfreight manifest through value-added service providers and the automation of Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) transhipments processing. Other upcoming projects geared toward paperless transactions include the automated transfer of shipments from one PEZA zone to another, and the automation of customs bonded warehouse (CBW) operations by 2016.
Uvero said there is a technical working group composed of the BOC and the private sector now studying automation of CBWs.
He noted automation of CBWs will need the development a software because a “plug and play” system specifically for CBW operations is not currently available. He said BOC is looking to tap a third party to provide the software.
Also in the pipeline is automation of transit permits for offdock container freight stations. – Roumina Pablo
Image courtesy of mapichai at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
