Nepal government calls for Machine Readable Passports (MRP) printing tender

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has called for fresh tenders to print Machine Readable Passports (MRP)s, Monday. The ministry issued a public notice calling bids from interested printers following a directive from Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the parliament.

MoFA opened the MRP printing tender for the second time after the cabinet revoked its decision to award MRP printing contract to India following intense pressure from all quarters. 

The previous tender process on MRP printing was cancelled citing technical reasons. 

Foreign ministry has changed some conditions for bidders to allow more companies to participate in the tender process.  

A printing company which has an experience of printing in at least two countries and has an annual turn over of at least USD 13 million is eligible to bid for MRP printing contract. 

Earlier, the government had set USD 18 million as the minimum turnover and an experience of printing in at least four countries. Only four companies had met the government conditions, then. 

The ministry has asked the bidders to submit their applications within 45 days. 

The selected printer should complete MRP printing by November. The extended deadline set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for introduction of MRPs is ending on August 1. 

Printers from all countries including the neighbouring India and China are allowed to participate in the bidding process. 

Experts had opined the neighbouring countries should not be allowed in the bidding process due to security reasons.