PZU issues IT tender
As PZU prepares a tender for an integrated computing system, the wording of the offer has called into question the state-owned insurance provider's intentions when it begins selecting candidates.
The country's largest insurer plans to winnow down a 20-company list to seven before it begins the actual tender process. But a key criterion for a company to win the €126 million-€253 million (zł. 500 million-zł. 1 billion) contract is past experience of providing IT systems for other Polish insurance companies.
The terms point to an even shorter list of candidates which have worked closely with government-owned entities in the past. In particular, Prokom Software, which has recently worked with PZU and the National Elections Office, has been tipped as leader of the pack. This has some lawyers wondering whether any other companies have a chance.
"It's a strange clause," said one Warsaw-based public procurement lawyer, who asked not to be identified.
Indeed, lawyers note that Prokom chief executive Ryszard Krauze is close to Leszek Miller's government.
"Prokom is well connected," said another lawyer, who has worked with PZU in the past.
Other potential bidders include ComputerLand, Softbank and UK-based IT company Sherwood. There's also a chance that Prokom might team up with Softbank, considering its recent acquisition of a strategic stake of the banking software producer. Tomasz Fill, PZU's spokesman, said he did not know any details of the tender.
The country's largest insurer plans to winnow down a 20-company list to seven before it begins the actual tender process. But a key criterion for a company to win the €126 million-€253 million (zł. 500 million-zł. 1 billion) contract is past experience of providing IT systems for other Polish insurance companies.
The terms point to an even shorter list of candidates which have worked closely with government-owned entities in the past. In particular, Prokom Software, which has recently worked with PZU and the National Elections Office, has been tipped as leader of the pack. This has some lawyers wondering whether any other companies have a chance.
"It's a strange clause," said one Warsaw-based public procurement lawyer, who asked not to be identified.
Indeed, lawyers note that Prokom chief executive Ryszard Krauze is close to Leszek Miller's government.
"Prokom is well connected," said another lawyer, who has worked with PZU in the past.
Other potential bidders include ComputerLand, Softbank and UK-based IT company Sherwood. There's also a chance that Prokom might team up with Softbank, considering its recent acquisition of a strategic stake of the banking software producer. Tomasz Fill, PZU's spokesman, said he did not know any details of the tender.
