Slow reporting, incomplete content, and improper responsibility
On July 1, 2025, the Government Office issued Document No. 6093/VPCP-CN conveying the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha regarding the inspection of the selection of contractors for the construction package of the Ho Chi Minh City - Thu Dau Mot - Chon Thanh expressway project through Binh Phuoc province (now in Dong Nai province).
According to the direction in document No. 4755/VPCP-CN dated May 29, 2025, the Ministry of Finance is required to report the inspection results before June 10, 2025. However, it was not until June 19, 2025 that the Ministry submitted a report, which was assessed to be too late compared to the deadline. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested the Ministry of Finance to seriously learn from experience.
Notably, the document clearly stated that the content of the report and recommendations of the Ministry of Finance did not properly demonstrate the functions and responsibilities of the state management agency for bidding, and did not clarify the role of the specialized agency in managing bidding activities. The inspection did not fully comply with the regulations in Circular 23/2024/TT-BKHDT dated December 31, 2024 of the Minister of Planning and Investment (now the Ministry of Finance). The Ministry did not specifically state and analyze the inspection results, did not issue conclusions and specific recommendations to the inspected units, and recommendations to competent authorities.
Although the Deputy Prime Minister assigned the expert team's capacity and experience to be inspected, the Ministry of Finance reported that it only inspected the bidding certificates and left the Project Management Board responsible for ensuring the capacity and experience of the expert team members... This approach is considered not to fulfill responsibility.
Meanwhile, according to the direction in document No. 4755/VPCP-CN dated May 29, 2025, the Deputy Prime Minister requested a full inspection of the content from the bidding documents, the results of the evaluation of the bidding documents, the handling of recommendations, expert capacity... to other related contents. However, the Ministry of Finance has only stopped at assessing the "unsatisfactory" content of the Expert Group and has not fully expanded it according to the direction.
Request to report and clarify each content according to regulations
The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Finance to urgently report and make specific recommendations in accordance with the functions, tasks and regulations in Circular 23/2024/TT-BKHDT.
In particular, it is necessary to comment and evaluate whether the content of E-HSMT has met regulations (especially the BIM requirement, whether it leads to different understandings or not? ; Requirements on the registration of symbols, codes, labels (if any) and the origin of materials and equipment are in accordance with the instructions in Circular 22/2024/TT-BKHDT or not? ; requirements on equipment capacity assessment standards and equipment assessment at technical requirements to ensure consistency or not, in case of inconsistency, will it affect the E-HSDT assessment results and distort the contractor selection results? )
The E-HSDT assessment process of the contractors of the Expert Team and the Investor has ensured compliance with the requirements of E-HSMT (especially ensuring accuracy, objectivity, and consistency in the assessment of construction equipment between capacity requirements, experience and technical requirements; between the detailed assessment report of the Expert Team and the comprehensive assessment report; does the Expert Team's failure to clarify E-HSDT as prescribed in Article 28 of Decree No. 24/2024/ND-CP ensure accuracy of the E-HSDT assessment results? )
Regarding the capacity of the Expert Team: It is recommended to have comments and assess the capacity, experience, quantity and requirements for members of the Expert Team according to the provisions of the law on bidding, not only through the requirements for certificates (especially considering the aspects of capacity and experience in the distinction between the detailed assessment report and the summary report; not clarifying E-HSDT...).
Regarding the results of contractor selection: Is it recommended to have specific comments and assessments on the results of E-HSDT assessment, appraisal, and approval of the results of contractor selection to ensure accuracy, objectivity, fairness, transparency, and economic efficiency, and whether the contractor proposed to win the bid has fully met the requirements of capacity, experience, and feasibility solutions to implement the package according to the requirements of progress and quality?
There are specific and clear recommendations for further handling such as: continuing to process the results with the selected contractor or needing to request the investor, the bidding party, the expert team to complete what content or other necessary measures.
Reporting deadline before July 5, no delay
The Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Finance to coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and the People's Committee of Binh Phuoc province (now Dong Nai province) to complete the report and send it to the Prime Minister before July 5, 2025. The delay cannot continue, to avoid affecting the project implementation progress.
For the People's Committee of Binh Phuoc province (now Dong Nai province), it is necessary to direct the Investor, Project Management Board and Bidding Expert Group to closely coordinate with the Working Group of the Ministry of Finance according to Decision No. 1935/QD-BTC dated June 2, 2025, ensuring the provision of complete records, documents and related information.
At the same time, promptly organize the settlement of contractor's recommendations in accordance with the provisions of the law on bidding.
