NFA revises terms of reference for open tender imports

MANILA, Philippines — State-run National Food Authority (NFA) has revised the terms of reference for the procurement of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice via open tender scheme as the agency wants to import all 25 percent brokens for the whole volume.

In a recently issued bid bulletin, NFA said it would no longer purchase 50,000 MT at 15 percent brokens and would instead buy all 25 percent brokens well-milled long grains white rice.

“The bid bulletin is issued to amend the rice specifications as the supply of 250,000 MT must all be at 25 percent brokens and the approved budget for the contract is revised as P6.502 billion,” NFA said.

The new budget allocated is just P19.7 million lower than the P6.52 billion earlier approved.

“The specs were revised on orders of the NFA Council. The 25 percent brokens can cater more for the masses and the poor. Bidding will still proceed on May 22,” said NFA Grains Market and Operations Division director Rocky Valdez.

The NFA reduced the lots to seven from the original nine and just increased the volume specified in some of the lots. Fourteen ports will receive the imported rice.

Bulk of the volume or 75,000 MT will now be discharged in the port of Manila, another 25,000 MT in Subic, 24,000 MT in Cebu, 23,500 MT in Batangas, and 20,000 MT in Tabaco.

The imported rice will also be discharged in Davao with 15,000 MT, La Union with 14,000 MT, Tacloban with 12,000 MT, and General Santos with 10,000 MT.

The remaining volume with be discharged at Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro with 7,000 MT each, Bacolod with 6,500 MT, Zamboanga with 6,000 MT and Surigao with 5,000 MT.

The imported volume is expected to arrive not later than July 31 for the first 200,000 MT and not later than August 31 for the remaining 50,000 MT.

Prospective bidders may bid for any of the lots provided that the bid must be the minimum price of the imported rice allocated per lot.

So far, 16 bidders have bought bid documents for the supply contract.

Of these, seven came from Vietnam, five from Thailand, while the others came from from Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and the Philippines.

The NFA will still accept bidders until the opening of bid documents tomorrow (Tuesday).

NFA said rice must be shipped in break bulk where packing shall be in 50 kilograms net each in woven polypropylene bags suitable for rice export with NFA markings, designs and specifications.

Winning bidders shall deliver the goods free of obligations and expenses of NFA up to NFA’s designated warehouses, which are within the 30-kilometer radius from the intended port of discharge.

NFA’s buffer stock remains good for less than one day or below 100,000 bags of rice, and even below its mandated 15-day buffer stock since late last year.