New Delhi: Months after the NEET-UG paper leak fiasco, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has floated a tender for round-the-clock security at its headquarters and regional offices.
Unlike conventional government procurement, the NTA has opted for a quality-over-cost selection model, citing the sensitive nature of its examination ecosystem.
The contract will be awarded for three years. It can be extended by another two years based on satisfactory performance.
The agency has adopted the Quality-and-Cost Based Selection (QCBS) model instead of selecting the lowest financial bidder. Technical quality will carry a weightage of 70%, while the financial bid will account for 30%. Only agencies scoring at least 70 out of 100 in the technical evaluation will qualify for the financial round.
The selected agency will provide 24×7 security at the NTA headquarters at Minto Road and regional offices like Okhla. Security personnel will guard examination material, server rooms, IT infrastructure and storage facilities. They will also manage access control, visitor verification and surveillance of NTA premises.
The 7.5 crore tender mandates strict confidentiality. Security personnel will not be allowed to disclose any information related to examination material, security arrangements or infrastructure. The confidentiality clause will remain in force even after the contract ends.
NTA, which came into existence in 2018, had their 47 personnel, including both temporary and permanent, axed on July 24 as part of administrative overhaul, while planning legal and disciplinary action against a select few.