The Kerala State IT Mission, was planning to pilot it by December.
ClearTax was incepted with the aim of simplifying the entire process of tax returns filing through technology (Representational Image)
Thiruvananthapuram: Upsetting the government's plans to roll out a mobile app to deliver all its online services by this month, the selection of a private partner for developing the app has hit a roadblock. Only one player qualified for the financial bid and hence a re-tendering is required.
The Kerala State IT Mission, the nodal agency of the state IT department, had invited proposals for the project in September .
just one qualifies to bid for state services app
The Kerala State IT Mission, was planning to pilot it by December. However, only one of the firms that submitted the request for proposal (RFP) was technically qualified for the financial bidding.
“Since there is only one firm, we have legal restrictions in inviting a competitive financial bid. Hence, re-tendering is needed. However, there will be no relaxations in the conditions for the RFP,”said IT Mission director Mr. Mohammed Safirulla.
The proposed app would offer 150 online services of the government, including payment, in the initial phase. It would be compatible with Android, iOS, Windows and Blackberry platforms.
All existing mobile services of various government departments would be linked to this app. The state government already has sanctioned Rs. 5 crore for the ambitious project.
Experts in the IT sector said that the feeble response from IT firms could be due to the lack of interest among them to do business with the government owing to the cumbersome procedures involved.
“Delay in tendering procedures, low rates of margins owing to the financial bidding and delays in payments are some reasons that prevent major IT firms from doing business with the government,” said Startup Village chairman Mr. Sanjay Vijaykumar. Moreover, there is no dearth of customers for IT firms from around the globe.
“To overcome this, the government should promote Swiss Challenge model tendering procedures which would enable companies to come up with innovative apps,” he said.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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