KUWAIT CITY, May 5: According to informed sources, the State Audit Bureau (SAB) has approved the extension of a contract with a company to provide maintenance to ensure the continuous delivery of high-quality data from the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) at a cost of KD 216,700. They explained that the extension of the current contract resulted in savings of over 80 percent compared to the original contract cost. SAB requested that the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) be informed of the total value of the extension after the cost reduction. The original contract, previously approved by CAPT, was valued at KD 396,000, and the Ministry of Finance has also approved the revised cost for the contract extension. After reviewing the contract documents and following up on previous inquiries, SAB did not object to extending the contract with the company for KD 216,700, down from the original amount, for one year from January 2, 2025, to January 2026.

SAB emphasized the importance of the financial offer submitted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) being accurate, particularly after achieving savings of KD 179,300. These savings resulted from the cancellation of modernization work costs originally included in the original contract, a reduction in labor wages and other line items, and the cancellation of preventive and corrective maintenance charges, which the company is obligated to provide free of charge for one year under the terms of the contract. SAB stressed the need for DGCA to exercise due professional diligence in guiding relevant stakeholders when reviewing contracts and extensions, to prevent awarding contracts at costs exceeding actual requirements

By Mohammed Al-Enezi Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff