ACC orders re-evaluation of Hajj group bids

The ACC concluded after an inquiry that the unfairness of the evaluation process used to select five groups raised “suspicion that this was done to provide undue benefit to a particular party,” according to a statement released Tuesday.

The anti-graft watchdog found that the criteria used to evaluate proposals were different from the one shared with interested parties at a pre-bid meeting. The ministry failed to inform bidders about sub-categories in the service and quality of service categories, which accounted for 50 percent of the marks.

Some Hajj groups scored lower because they did not include information about the sub-categories, the ACC noted, stressing that the process was rendered unfair due to the ministry’s failure to explain how points would be awarded.