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Reading Skill (Week 13)

Supplier charges tablet bids may be rigged 
Published: 30 Aug 2013 at 00.20
Newspaper section: News 




Computer tablet supplier Supreme Distribution Co has threatened to file a lawsuit against the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) if it invalidates a bidding result for Zone 3, covering the Central Plains and southern provinces. The company won the June bidding to supply 426,683 tablets to Mathayom 1 students and teachers in Zone 3.

However, Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng last month instructed Obec to scrap the tablet procurement in Zone 3 because of concerns about bid rigging.

The minister's concerns arose because only two companies took part in the bidding. Supreme Distribution offered a price of 2,908.24 baht per unit which was unusually close to the median price of 2,920 baht. The Office of the AuditorGeneral (OAG) has also questioned the price difference between the computer tablets procured in zones 3 and 4.

Jasmine Telecom Systems won the bid to supply 402,889 tablets for Mathayom 1 students and teachers in Zone 4 covering the northern and northeastern provinces for 2,169 baht apiece.

Obec, however, has not yet signed an order to invalidate the bidding result for Zone 3 as instructed by the minister.

Panuwat Khantamoleekul, managing director of Supreme Distribution, Thursday vehemently denied foul play in the bidding.

"I assure that there was no bid rigging and we have not colluded with our competitor," he said, referring to SVOA Plc — the other company that took part in the Zone 3 bidding.

He said the company had already sent two letters to Mr Chaturon and a ministry committee overseeing the tablet computer scheme to quell suspicions.

As for the questions over the price difference between Zone 3 and Zone 4, Mr Panuwat said the tablet price procured for Zone 4 was lower than Zone 3 because Zone 4 bidders had learned about the winning price in the previous bidding for zones 1-3. He said they lowered their price to near the median price.

According to the tablet scheme's terms of reference, the tablet committee can revoke the bidding results only if there is "strong evidence" of bidding irregularities.

He said the OAG's concerns are not considered solid evidence.

Obec earlier conducted a probe into the alleged irregularities in the bidding, but found no wrongdoing.

Mr Panuwat said once Obec signed an order to scrap the Zone 3 bidding result, the company would automatically be put on a blacklist and might face legal action.

"This will damage the company's reputation," he said. "We might have to file an administrative charge against Obec to protect our image."

Obec secretary-general Chinnapat Bhumirat Thursday said the company had the right to file a lawsuit against the agency.

However, he insisted Obec had not yet nullified the Zone 3 bidding result.


Obec secretary-general Chinnapat Bhumirat Thursday said the company had the right to file a lawsuit against the agency. 
However, he insisted Obec had not yet nullified the Zone 3 bidding result. 

Supplier charges tablet bids may be rigged

          Today, I would like to read a new more. I read about “Supplier charges tablet bids may be rigged” That are about tablet in the present. There are problem because bid rigging zone 3 and zone 4.
                The minister's concerns arose because only two companies took part in the bidding. Supreme Distribution offered a price of 2,908.24 baht per unit which was unusually close to the median price of 2,920 baht. The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has also questioned the price difference between the computer tablets procured in zones 3 and 4. 

I think, tablet is important to students in M.1 because it has many activities to learn in many ways such as, learning from video, song and etc. But if students get a tablet to a bad way , students would be have not to learn and can’t know about knowledge that they want to know.


Vocabulary
Pronunciation
Meaning
supplier [N]
ผู้จัดหาสิ่งของให้
someone whose business is to supply a particular service or commodity
charge [N]
 /tʃɑːdʒ/
ค่าธรรมเนียม
(criminal law) a pleading describing some wrong or offense;
"he was arrested on a charge of larceny"
bid [N]
การประมูล
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
"they made a futile play for power"
rig [VT] 
   /rɪg/
ใช้อุบายเก็งกำไร
gear (including necessary machinery) for a particular enterprise
threaten [VT]
คุกคาม
pose a threat to; present a danger to;
"The pollution is endangering the crops"
file [N]
 /fʌɪl/
แฟ้มเอกสาร
a set of related records (either written or electronic) kept together
lawsuit [N] 
 /ˈlɔːsuːt, -sjuːt/
คดีความ
a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy;
"the family brought suit against the landlord"
invalidate [VT]
ทำให้เป็นโมฆะ
declare invalid;
"The contract was annulled"
covering [N]
 /ˈkʌv(ə)rɪŋ/
สิ่งคุ้มกัน
a natural object that covers or envelops;
"under a covering of dust"
scrap [ADJ]
เป็นชิ้นเล็กชิ้นน้อย
disposed of as useless;
“waste paper”
procurement [N] 
การจัดหามา
the act of getting possession of something;
"he was responsible for the procurement of materials and supplies"
concern [N] 
ความกังวล
something that interests you because it is important or affects you;
"the safety of the ship is the captain's concern"
arise [VI] 
 /əˈrʌɪz/
เกิดขึ้น
come into existence; take on form or shape;
 "A new religious movement originated in that country"
vehemently [ADV]
 /ˈviːɪm(ə)nt/
อย่างรุนแรง
in a vehement manner;
"he vehemently denied the accusations against him"
foul [VT] 
ทำผิดกติกา
highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust;
"a disgusting smell"
revoke [VT] 
เพิกถอน
fail to follow suit when able and required to do so

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