One day after the media reported about a tender for PR consultancy for 24 public institutions prepared by an unknown company from Horné Plachtince, Regionálna Obstarávacia Agentúra, Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák halted the competition, saying that he would not employ the winning bidders. Moreover, he also recommended that the other subjects do the same, since it was obvious that Regionálna Obstarávacia Agentúra only played the role of a straw man, the Sme daily reported on April 20.
“We recommend [them] to make their own procurements and use the services of the agency only in the event that they are not able to procure at more advantageous terms,” said Tatiana Behrová, the advisor of the Interior Ministry dealing with procurements, as quoted by Sme.
Sme wrote in its April 19 issue that Regionálna Obstarávacia Agentúra was able to prepare the purchases only thanks to the fact that its owner is the village of Horné Plachtince. Yet, neither its mayor, Ladislav Nozdrovický, nor anyone else from the village, has experience with the kind of services offered by the company.
Meanwhile, the use of the local agency’s services has been criticised by former justice minister Lucia Žitňanská, who asked all 24 public institutions whether they plan to continue using the agency’s services or whether they have ever visited the mayor of Horné Plachtince.
Žitňanská also wants to submit a complaint over the whole tender to the Public Procurement Office, Sme wrote.
Source: Sme
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
22. Apr 2013 at 14:00
