The Ministry of Finance has uncovered inconsistencies in the evaluation reports related to the disqualification of four out of five contractors, including Son Hai Group, which submitted the lowest bid.

In a report to the Government, the Ministry of Finance reviewed the contractor selection process for a construction package in the Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh expressway project, specifically the 7-kilometer segment running through Binh Phuoc province.

This segment, managed by the Binh Phuoc Provincial Project Management Unit, is part of a broader project with a total investment of approximately USD 58 million. The bidding package under review was estimated at over USD 34.7 million.

After bids were opened on March 17, the joint venture of Truong Son - Thanh Phat was selected with a winning bid of approximately USD 33.3 million, saving over USD 1.4 million compared to the projected budget.

However, four other bidders, including Son Hai Group-which had submitted the lowest bid at over USD 28.9 million-were disqualified for not meeting technical requirements.

According to the project owner, Son Hai Group failed to satisfy criteria related to construction materials and equipment, implementation of building information modeling (BIM), and availability of construction machinery.

BIM standards and evaluation methodology under scrutiny

Upon review, the Ministry of Finance agreed that applying BIM during the construction phase is appropriate. However, it emphasized that the project owner must clearly define BIM evaluation criteria to ensure transparency, feasibility, and consistent interpretation among bidders.

Regarding the assessment of construction equipment, the Ministry advised referencing relevant regulations and expert opinions, noting that it lacks sufficient grounds to determine the legal validity of the technical inspection documents provided by the bidders.

The Ministry confirmed that the three members of the bid evaluation panel held valid professional licenses until at least October 2028. However, it stressed that ensuring the competency and experience of the evaluation panel is the project owner's responsibility.

Crucially, the Ministry of Finance identified discrepancies between the detailed and summary evaluation reports for four disqualified bidders. While the detailed report deemed their capacity and experience "not satisfactory," the summary report rated them as "satisfactory."

Improper timing in requesting equipment replacements

Additionally, under Chapter III of Standard Construction Form 3A, contractors should be asked to replace non-compliant equipment during the assessment of capacity and experience-not during technical evaluation. The evaluation panel, however, conducted these requests during the technical assessment stage.

Given these procedural concerns, the Ministry of Finance recommended that the Government direct Binh Phuoc province to carefully consider the findings and take full responsibility for contractor selection in this package. It also urged local authorities to promptly address Son Hai Group’s formal complaint in accordance with regulations to avoid delays.

The Ministry further emphasized the need to ensure that the selected contractor is qualified, experienced, and financially capable of executing the project on time and to quality standards, thereby minimizing losses, waste, and negative practices.

In cases where necessary, the province is advised to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to verify the legal status of documents related to technical inspections and environmental protection tied to the bidding process.

Previously, Son Hai Group, one of the five original bidders, filed a formal objection to its disqualification, despite offering the lowest bid.

The Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh expressway passes through Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 2 km), Binh Duong province (52 km), and Binh Phuoc province (7 km). Construction of the Binh Phuoc section began in December 2024.

Hong Khanh