"EPS blocks Serbian companies from bidding"

"EPS blocks Serbian companies from bidding"

“EPS set the qualification criteria that made it impossible for domestic companies to be bidders, on their own or as part of consortiums, which is in contravention of the principles of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which finances the project,” reads the council's report on the provision of the IT equipment, metering infrastructure and installations, which was delivered to the Serbian government on April 27.

The Council calls for an inquiry into whether the EPS set such criteria that helped foreign bidders win the tender worth EUR 60 million and be responsible for replacing 3 million meters worth EUR 700 million in total in the future.

In its explanation of the tender procedure, EPS offered the false information that the EBRD and the European Investment Bank (EIB) that also finances the project, dictated the tender conditions, notes the report.