Firms line as much as bid however vaccine makers say don’t have any brokers

A Romanian agency that stated it might present Pfizer Covid vaccines to Mumbai however then withdrew its bid after Pfizer stated it had no authorised brokers; companies linked with meals merchandise, attire, consultancy, reasonably than vaccines; one which’s been related to media and film-making — a motley crew of corporations have responded to international Expressions of Interest by Maharashtra and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for five crore and 1 crore vaccines respectively.
This comes as a number of states float international tenders and, on the identical time, underline that the Centre ought to procure the vaccines reasonably than make them compete within the international market.

The eight companies that responded to Maharashtra’s name, The Indian Express discovered, are both consultancy companies, concerned in export/import, or companies that work on fee foundation – solely three are within the well being sector. They have quoted between $10-38 (Rs 728-Rs 2767) for a dose. “Some even assured supply within three weeks of placing an advance order,” a senior official stated.
That appears simpler stated than completed.
Maharashtra obtained responses from three Indian corporations: GameChangerz; Tapadiya International Interventional Technology and Healthcare Ltd; and GetIt Innovations Private Ltd. Those primarily based outdoors India embody ProcureNet, Kinfolk Trading FZC, Grupo Fermexor, Medical Supply Company of Switzerland (MSCS) and Hadley Development LLC.
All three Indian corporations have claimed they’ll provide Russian vaccine Sputnik V. A spokesperson for Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) that handles Sputnik stated they don’t have any formal tie-ups in India other than Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.

GameChangerz is a administration consultancy agency that specialises in vehicle, style, meals and telecom. In an electronic mail response, founder Jagat Jit Singh stated: “We can enable imports of Sputnik V. GameChangerz is representing CDP Swiss, who is a distributor of RDIF.”
Pune-based Tapadiya International, a four-year-old firm, carries out wholesale and commission-based commerce and offers in medication and medical gear. Records present it had revenues of Rs 6.19 crore and a lack of Rs 1.99 crore in 2020. It didn’t reply to an electronic mail for remark.
GetIt Innovations is a Delhi-based agency that specialises in media, film-making and communications, in keeping with its information. Its promoters are Sanjeev Narula and Rachna Narula. Its reviews present it has not generated any income from operations since 2017, barring 2019, when it booked gross sales of Rs 4.12 lakh. Rachna Narula declined to remark.

Grupo Fermexor, a Mexican firm, claimed it might probably present Sputnik V, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Astra Zeneca vaccine. However, a Pfizer spokesperson stated: “Neither Pfizer Inc nor any of its affiliates globally, including in India, have authorized anyone to import/market/distribute the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID 19 vaccine. We continue to have ongoing discussions with the Government of India towards making our vaccine available for use nationally.”

Moderna, AstraZeneca and J&J didn’t reply to an electronic mail question.
An electronic mail was additionally despatched to Grupo Fermexor, no response was obtained. All different corporations have claimed they’ll provide Sputnik though the Russian entity hasn’t given any particulars of its brokers up to now.
Kinfolk Trading is a UAE-based worldwide import/export company that offers in meals merchandise and IT options. Australia-based ProcureNET specialises in buying, logistics, and stock.MCSC (Switzerland) handles procurement of medical gadgets, medical merchandise, and provides to authorities and hospitals. Hadley Development, primarily based in US, works on provide chains to deal with retail for international manufacturers, particularly, in attire.
Officials stated the Maharashtra authorities plans to carry a video convention with the businesses this week to know their schedule and discover if they’ve an settlement with vaccine producers to obtain shares. The state additionally plans to succeed in out to the Centre to vet these corporations.

Meanwhile, Romania-based O2 Blue Energy SRL had responded to BMC Tuesday claiming it might probably assist provide Pfizer-BioNtech and AstraZeneca vaccines. The identical day, Pfizer-BioNtech stated it had not approved anybody to import, market and distribute its vaccines.
“On Thursday, the firm sent an email informing us that they are withdrawing their bids. No reasons have been given for withdrawing the proposal,” stated a BMC official.

Now, the BMC has been left with seven proposals and all these companies stated they’ll facilitate provide of Russian Sputnik V and Sputnik V Light. BMC and the Maharashtra authorities have written to RDIF for direct procurement of vaccines however are but to obtain any response.
The BMC can also be awaiting a response from Pune’s Serum Institute of India (SII. “Last week, we sent an email with our EOI copy (for vaccines) to SII seeking their participation in the tender. So far there is no reply from them,” stated an official.
Officials added they’re hopeful of getting extra bids because the final date of submission has been prolonged till June 1.