ISLAMABAD, April 08: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has blacklisted M/s Megaplus for a period of three years for failing to fulfill its contractual obligations related to the supply of desktop computers, according to a blacklisting order issued by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
The contract, under Tender No. 1(10)S(IT)/Fieldoffices/2017 (Lot 104), involved the supply of desktop computers to FBR field offices.
Instead of delivering the agreed equipment, Megaplus filed a civil suit in the District Court (Islamabad West), seeking cancellation of the contract and a permanent injunction.
The FBR initiated blacklisting proceedings under Rule 19(1)(b) of the Public Procurement Rules, 2004, citing non-fulfillment of supplies and failure to submit a performance guarantee.
After reviewing the matter, the FBR formally blacklisted Megaplus on February 6, 2024, with the order to remain in effect until February 5, 2027.
The decision underscores the government’s firm stance on enforcing accountability and upholding the integrity of public procurement processes.
FBR Action
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued a second warning to Megaplus, one of Pakistan’s largest and oldest Dell authorized distributors, for failure to supply 4,300 desktop computers as part of a contract worth Rs 902 million.
Contract Details:
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Awarded in April 2022, the contract required Megaplus to supply 4,300 desktop computers to FBR. The delivery deadline was set to be completed within 18-20 weeks from the issuance of the purchase order, but as of now, the delivery remains unfulfilled.
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Megaplus has not provided a delivery schedule nor submitted a performance guarantee despite multiple reminders. In December 2022, Megaplus CEO Asim Bukhari met with an FBR IT official, assuring that the computers would be delivered soon.
FBR’s Response:
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FBR has repeatedly requested a delivery schedule and performance guarantee, setting a final deadline for February 21, 2023.
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Failure to meet these terms led to the warning of blacklisting Megaplus under Rule 18 of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Rules 2004.
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FBR has also given Megaplus a final chance to submit a delivery schedule and performance guarantee or face blacklisting proceedings.
Court Petition:
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In response, Megaplus filed a petition in court to stop FBR from taking adverse actions such as blacklisting, encashment of securities, and contract termination.
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The company argued that delays in receiving the Letter of Credit from the State Bank had hindered the timely execution of the contract, leading to potential financial losses.
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Megaplus also requested the reimbursement of its bank guarantee of Rs 58,000 as part of its bid security of Rs 11,580,000.
Competition:
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Meanwhile, Lenovo, a competitor, has already finished production of the 4,300 desktop computers for FBR, which are now ready for pickup from their UAE warehouse.
