BMC didn’t get a single bid for international vaccine tender. Here is why

As the final date for submitting an expression of curiosity (EOI) by vaccine producers shut at present, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is left empty-handed. On May 12, it had floated a worldwide tender for vaccines and have become the primary municipal company within the nation to take action. However, it has not obtained even a single bid from any vaccine producers.
The international tender, barring Chinese vaccines, was floated for a whopping 1 crore Coronavirus vaccine doses on May 12. However, the BMC had imposed strict circumstances for the procurement of the vaccines. One of the circumstances was that the bidding vaccine producer should ship the doses inside 3 weeks from the date of the problem of a piece order.
Such a short while span for the supply of 1 crore vaccine doses was unfeasible for vaccine producers. It should be talked about that the majority international firms are struggling to fulfill the rising demand for vaccines and are working behind on present orders. Even although the BMC had saved its tender open for overseas vaccine producers equivalent to Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, all such firms want necessary clearance from the  Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI).
The civic physique had additionally put forth the situation to vaccine producers that they must prepare for storage amenities in case these amenities aren’t obtainable with the BMC. Such stringent circumstances, coupled with pending approval, lack of flexibility, and a small window for supply, meant that every one vaccine producers remained disinterested within the proposal.
It is notable right here that vaccines for Pfizer and Moderna want ultra-low temperature storage amenities to stay viable. While the vaccines presently utilized in India, SII’s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin could be saved in common and present amenities, the storage, transport and distribution of most overseas vaccines will want costly arrange presently non-existent in our healthcare logistics programs.
Penalty for delay
The BMC tender had circumstances that there will likely be no superior funds to the businesses, and they are going to be fined if there’s a delay in supply of vaccines.
They’ve to put in their chilly storage if wanted. Efficacy of the vaccines shouldn’t be decrease than 60% can also be beneath our tender’s phrases & circumstances. We’ll not give any advance fee. We will effective firms in the event that they fail to ship vaccines on time: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2021
Many specialists have said that the BMC’s tender was unrealistic as there’s a international demand in opposition to a restricted provide of vaccines presently. All vaccine firms have a number of governments requesting billions of doses. Amid this, a metropolis municipal authority pretending that vaccine producers will line up with prepared doses to promote at their doorstep was a flawed notion to start with. The lack of any potential bidders for the vaccine tender by BMC has simply confirmed so.
BMC to increase the deadline for bidding by vaccine producers
Faced with embarrassment, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is now mulling to increase the deadline for submitting an expression of curiosity. Additional Municipal Commissioner P Velarasu, who has been tasked with vaccine procurement, has remarked, “If we do not receive any response by the deadline, we might give an extension. Until now, we have not received any bids.”
Amidst a scarcity of Coronavirus vaccines within the State, this comes as a serious setback. The Maharashtra authorities has thus deferred the third section of vaccination, which was meant to kickstart from May 1.
Vaccine producers around the globe don’t have any dearth of demand, typically with easy or no circumstances. Owing to BMC’s red-tapping technique, it’s now left with no bidders. However, this has not stopped Indian liberals from blaming the Union authorities for states not having the ability to procure Coronavirus vaccines. It should be talked about that the Central authorities had allowed the States to obtain vaccines immediately from the producers after repeated calls for from a number of state governments, together with Maharashtra.