Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1497813
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 APRIL 2023 NEWS AN audit of the University of Mal- ta's tender award for the devel- opment of a campus hub to Vas- sallo Builders has raised "serious doubts" on fairness in the process. The National Audit Office said the university should have en- trusted the 2015 tendering pro- cess to the Department of Con- tracts. The report was tabled in parliament last week. The award of the concession was made through a Request for Pro- posals (RFP) issued by the UOM, then led by former rector Juanito Camilleri. The RFP attracted only one bid from Campus Residence Malta Ltd, a subsidiary of Vassallo Builders. But "multiple changes" to orig- inal plans made after the con- cession was awarded, including the incorporation of the medical school in one of the blocks and an increase in commercial space "raise serious doubts about fair competition." The NAO also lamented the ab- sence of consultation at the initial stage of the project noting that this led to the criticism of various aspects of the project by students and academics. Department of Contracts would have done it better The concession for the campus hub consisting of student resi- dences and various amenities in- cluding retail, a food court and an underground car park over a floor area of 80,709sq.m was awarded to Vassallo Builders Group Ltd for 60 years in return for an annual ground rent through a Public Pri- vate Partnership (PPP) venture. According to the NAO the ten- dering process complied with the legislative framework regulating public procurement and the pro- ject largely made economic and financial sense especially in view of the fact that the university was pre- cluded by budgetary constraints from auto financing the project. But the decision to issue an RFP meant that the University of Mal- ta had "forfeited the opportunity of benefitting from the expertise of the Department of Contracts". According to the NAO the De- partment of Contract 's expertise would have contributed towards more safeguards for and stake- holders' interests as would have broadened the competitive ele- ment surrounding this conces- sion, possibly attracting interna- tional interest in the project. "Moreover, through this ap- proach, publication of the RfP was mainly limited to local sources, thus not ensuring widespread ex- posure overseas," the report states. During the audit the university insisted that its former Director of Procurement had discussed this project with the Department of Contracts which had referred them to the government's pri- vatisation unit MIMCOL for as- sistance. However, when further queried by the NAO, the univer- sity was not able to support this statement with the appropriate documentation and audit trail of such discussions. On its part the Department of Contracts insisted "that it was neither involved nor granted its approval for the UOM to receive competitive bids relating to this concession". Moreover, the Con- tracts Department denied refer- ring the University to MIMCOL for assistance. The NAO identified several short comings in the RFP includ- ing the absence of a right of appeal clause, a standard clause which "should always be included in a tendering document". This clause safeguards bidders' interests and ensures that a fair tendering pro- cess is carried out. Neither did the RFP specify the minimum ground rent to be paid by potential bidders to the university which was only estab- Campus Hub audit: 'Serious doubts' NAO investigation of concession award to Vassallo Builders finds nothing illegal but says changes to original plan cast 'serious doubts' on whether process respected 'free competition' CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 However, the building that was still under con- struction collapsed last December, killing Jean Paul Sofia. He was found dead under the rubble after a 14-hour search. Several other workers were grievously injured in the incident. INDIS cited a breach of contractual conditions as the basis of its court proceedings. The agency said that the site of the construc- tion collapse is currently under the control and jurisdiction of the inquiring magistrate into So- fia's death. The magistrate has the power to au- thorise works until the site is released. "However, it must be made clear that the em- phyteuta had assumed full responsibility for the site and INDIS was never involved in any part of the construction process, nor has it conduct- ed any works thereon," an INDIS spokesperson said. MaltaToday is informed that the magistrate or- dered the demolition of the construction site at the industrial estate last March after the neces- sary evidence was taken from the area. But the magisterial inquiry is moving at a slow pace and more than four months later has not yet been concluded. No one has been charged over Sofia's death. When 54-year-old Miriam Pace was similarly found under the rubble of her home in March 2020 after her house collapsed, four people were brought to court and charged a month later. Prime Minister Robert Abela has been highly critical of the delays in the magisterial inquiry, even criticising Magistrate Marseanne Farrugia directly as the inquiring magistrate overseeing the proceedings. He also wrote to the Chief Justice complain- ing of "unacceptable delays" in the inquiry, in- sisting that the magistrate has all the resources requested, including technical experts, at her disposal. Meanwhile, Jean Paul Sofia's parents have been calling for a public inquiry into their son's death. This call is being backed by the Nationalist Party and civil society groups, with European Parlia- ment President Roberta Metsola also lending her support. Last month, Sofia's friends hung a banner close to the Msida skatepark reading #JusticeForJean- PaulSofia. In a statement, they called for a public inquiry into his death. "The inquiry is essential so that we can understand why Jean Paul Sofia's life – filled with health and love – was cut short on the 3 December," the statement said. Isabelle Bonnici, Sofia's mother, placed a por- trait of her son with candles in front of the Prime Minister's office in Valletta earlier in April. The portrait was there to serve as a message in favour of launching a public inquiry but was removed overnight. A week later, Isabelle went outside the parlia- ment building and handed out letters to MPs from both sides of the House pleading for a pub- lic inquiry into her son's death. She also handed out a memorial card of her son together with the letter. Magistrate authorised demolition of building where Sofia died JAMES DEBONO The debris at the Corradino site under which Jean Paul Sofia was buried