A FIRM has expressed interest in the Cebu Provincial Government’s plan to hire an advertising agency to produce ads showcasing the Capitol’s programs and projects.

Jone Siegfried Sepe, acting Provincial Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman, told SunStar Cebu that representatives of JDS Media Services, a Cebu-based company, attended the second pre-bidding conference held in their office yesterday afternoon.

JDS Media Services was represented by its owner, Joselito del Socorro.

Sepe, however, believes that more parties will attend the actual bidding, which is set on Aug. 1.

BAC declared a failure of bidding last June after no company submitted a bid for handling the Capitol’s advertising needs.

But during the pre-bidding conference last month, two firms, namely Sonshine Radio and Ideaz Solutions and Advertising, showed up.

Based on Republic Act 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act, Sepe said that if two subsequent biddings of government programs or projects fail, the local government concerned has the option to resort to a negotiated procurement.

Under the law, negotiated procurement can only be done under “extraordinary circumstances”; in it, the procuring entity directly negotiates a contract with a “technically, legally and financially capable” contractor or consultant. (JKV)