The joint venture of Ione Resources Inc. and Ardent Networks, Inc. could be in line to bag the Secure Electronic Transmission Services (SETS) project that will be used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the May 2025 national and local polls.
This as the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) recommended to the Comelec en banc the awarding of the P1,638,501,499.40 contract to the Ione-Ardent joint venture.
“The SBAC gave a positive recommendation to the Comelec en banc as it said that the bid submission of Ione is fully compliant,” said Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco in an interview with reporters.
“The SBAC also said Ione has passed all legal, financial, and technical requirements of the project. It can be considered as having the lowest calculated and responsive bid,” he also said.
Laudiangco, who is also the SBAC vice-chairperson, said they submitted their recommendations last March 25 after conducting the post qualification evaluation of Ione’s bidding documents.
He said they expect the Commission en banc to come up with a decision as soon as possible.
“If they approve our recommendations, we can declare Ione as the winning bidder. The Notice of Award, contract signing, and Notice to Proceed shall follow,” said the poll official.
