ARiMR computer tender will exclude domestic producers

The Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture (ARiMR), which has recently cancelled a lucrative tender for all-terrain vehicles, has now started another one for 2,600 computers and about 600 servers worth over zl. 17 million. The investment is linked to introducing the IACS system, which will help manage the distribution of EU aid. "The specifications demanded will exclude many companies, including all Polish computer suppliers," an informer told Puls Biznesu. However, the Agency has promised that domestic companies will be treated preferentially. One of the conditions is that any potential supplier must have an ISO 14001 certificate to prove their products show concern for the environment. Unfortunately no Polish producers possess this certificate, so it automatically eliminates them from the tender, while at the same time increasing the cost of the contract by 40%. ". We want the equipment to be built to the highest international standards," said Dariusz Zelichowski from ARiMR. Another condition which must be met is that the supplier should design and produce several parts of the finished product, which again works against domestic producers. "We might protest, but it will not change anything," said a representative of a domestic computer producer. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 2, 5) M.M.