A month late, the General Elections Commission (KPU) announced Wednesday the winners of a tender to supply seals and ink for ballots for the legislative elections.

However, the KPU’s logistics procurement committee did not name the winning companies of a tender to procure 693 million ballots costing Rp 866 billion as it was scheduled to Wednesday.

Committee head Binsar ST Siagian said PT Pura Barutama had won the contract to produce the ballot seals for a total price of Rp 1.56 billion.

Three companies won a procurement tender to manufacture 1.24 million bottles of ink, he said, adding that one of them -- PT Sigma Utama -- had won four procurement packages in the tender at a total cost of Rp 5.42 billion.

On its website, the KPU announced that CV Tridaya Pratama had won two ink supply packages in the tender with price offers of Rp 1.43 billion and Rp 1.44 billion.

PT Intimas Wisesa in the same tender won two packages worth a total of Rp 2.86 billion.

The KPU also announced the companies that came second and third in the tenders, adding that they would be given the contract were the winner to pull out or prove incapable.

KPU logistics bureau deputy head Boradi said his office had to delay announcing the winners of the ballots tender because it was still verifying the performances of the participating companies.

The KPU has offered the ballots tender in 10 packages. The bidding process for one of the packages must be repeated because only one company made a bid, which violates a presidential decree.

“We must clarify the capabilities of the companies in the tenders including their printing machines and production capacities as well as their ability to stock ballots,” Barodi told reporters.

The KPU requires each bidder to cooperate with paper companies and supply firms to ensure the contracts are fulfilled on time.

The KPU said the ballots would have to start being produced by early February to ensure they reached local elections commissions by March.

The KPU said it would prioritize the distribution of ballots to remote areas and abroad in anticipation of delayed shipments due to bad weather.

A hold up in the distribution of ballots before the 2004 left the KPU in a panic to supply its local branches in time.

Poll watchdogs have warned the KPU to be punctual and transparent in holding procurement tenders to ensure a smooth election.

Unfinished election stages

1. Ballots procurement tender

2. Regulation on the distribution of legislative seats

3. Regulation on seat quota for female candidates 

4. Perpu* on marking a ballot twice

5. Perpu on voter-list update

* Perpu is a government regulation in-lieu-of law

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