This guide
strongly encourages the buyers to go the extra mile in their procurement
process to come up with a most credible short list of undisputed worthy
suppliers. Evaluation teams should be resourceful enough to properly check in
detail, backgrounds, business reputations and current business standings of
potential suppliers. Most importantly, the unquestionable stability and
soundness of the company that you will be buying from.
Why? because
the Earthquake Monitoring Device stands to operate for at least a period of 10
years based on the Guidelines and Implementing Rules on Earthquake Recording
Instrumentation for Buildings. Chapter 12 of which reads as follows:
"XII. SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE
The seismic
monitoring system shall have a maintenance clearance as per the requirement of
the National Structural Code of the Philippines under Section 105.2. “Maintenance
and service shall be provided by the owner of the building.”
The supplier
shall provide guarantee that the system shall have a maintenance period for at
least 10 years.
For the
service period, the maximum service interval is one year. The three Recording
accelerographs shall be integrated together to function in unison that a
failure in one unit shall not hinder the progress of the entire building
seismic monitoring system. The accelerograph shall be equipped with fault
detection and alarm that in the event of a fault, the building owners shall
call the supplier, and report the fault to Building Official. Calibration
testing shall be made in a per year basis to ensure that the integrated systems
are in its proper operational efficiency."
Will the
supplier still be around at any given time within the stipulated 10-year
period? What about the continuous availability of spare parts within a 10-year
span? What guarantee do the buyers have after parting with their millions?
Companies may come and go anytime. This is where the need for a
well-experienced, strong, stable, well-established and credible company comes
in. Those who are truly capable of meeting and guaranteeing the maintenance
requirements of the DPWH IRR. Companies with unquestionable vast pool of
human resources ready to immediately attend to the needs of every client at any given time.
This is no kid stuff.
“Section II. Objectives
In conformance with the said Section 102 and
as provided in the NSCP 2010, these Guidelines and Implementing Rules on Earthquake
Recording Instrumentation for Buildings were developed to primarily safeguard
lives, and for clear understanding of the actual dynamic behavior of
buildings/structures under earthquake loading and confirm the structural design
parameters used or to be adopted in compliance to the specific provisions of
the NSCP. The recorded data will be used to improve the safety provisions of
local structural code there by reducing loss of lives and limbs as well as
properties during future damaging earthquakes, and to improve our understanding
of the behavior and potential damage of building under the dynamic load of
earthquakes.”
This clearly
concerns human lives. These are devices that aims to reduce the loss of lives
and limbs in the first place. Devices that we cannot risk buying on complacency
and without exercising more than due diligence in the procurement process. It
is a moral obligation to our building occupants, workers, employees, friends
and everyone that we share our working areas with each and every day, far more than and
above any act of compliance for operational permits.
It is in
this line that it will be very wise and prudent on every buyer’s part if they
will strictly require to the letter, the following documentations before
entertaining any request for product presentation. This will serve as a very
effective initial filter for qualification.
ü
Registration Certificate from Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC)
ü
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for sole
proprietorship
ü
Copy of Mayor’s permit issued by the city or
municipality where the principal place of business is located
ü
Copy of Application for renewal of Mayor’s
Permit from the city or municipality where the principal place of business is
located, along with a proof of payment for said renewal
ü
A Statement with at least five (5) of its
ON-GOING government and/or private contracts within the past 3 years, with
accompanying Purchase Order or Contract.
ü
A Statement with at least five (5) of its
COMPLETED government and/or private contracts within the past 3 years with
accompanying 1. Purchase Order or Contract; and 2. Certificate of Acceptance or
Certificate of Completion or Official Receipt of Last Payment Made.
ü
Copy of Audited financial statements for the
last 2 years, stamped “RECEIVED” by the BIR or its duly accredited or
authorized institutions.
ü
Most importantly, a Statement/Summary of all
projects completed with corresponding Certificate of Installation of Earthquake
Recording Instrumentation issued by the Building Official.
It will
definitely serve your best interest if you have these complete documents safely
at hand before adhering to any product presentation requests. These data will provide you with a very good insight about the general
character of the company that you might be dealing with and it will work favorably
on your part. Furthermore, it will allow you to be in full control right from
the beginning and establish an authoritative stance for the entire procurement process. It makes them play your
game and not you playing their game. Any single document missing may spark the
onset of doubt. And where doubt exists, working relationships usually looks less
promising. No room for mistakes here. Human lives are at stake. It should never
be compromised. Wise to have these as standard requirements before any product presentation and you can never go wrong. For the more adventurous buyers, the choice is always yours.
Profiling the financial condition and cost structure is a must. An assessment of a potential partner’s financial condition should be made during the evaluation process and work on the different financial ratios that determine whether a supplier can invest in resources, pay its suppliers and its workforce, and continue to meet its debt and financial obligations. These elements are important in determining whether the supplier will continue to be a reliable source of supply, and that supply will not be disrupted.
Profiling the financial condition and cost structure is a must. An assessment of a potential partner’s financial condition should be made during the evaluation process and work on the different financial ratios that determine whether a supplier can invest in resources, pay its suppliers and its workforce, and continue to meet its debt and financial obligations. These elements are important in determining whether the supplier will continue to be a reliable source of supply, and that supply will not be disrupted.
You may drop an email at seismicphils@gmail.com for a free full copy of the DPWH IRR and will gladly send it to you in PDF format. Please include your questions or inquiries regarding seismic accelerograph procurement process if any with your name, designation,and company so can be addressed properly.