Is ‘open Request for Proposal’ an open tender?
In today’s interview with Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, the BFM interviewer asked about the allegation that the Request for Proposal (RFP) used to award the Penang Transport Master Plan was not an open tender. It is very unfortunate that such misinformation is being propagated by certain NGOs and critics against the project. The chief minister has rightly replied that the RFP used for the project was “an open tender by any definition.” There are several types of open tender. Each type is employed according to the scale and limitation of the project. Let’s say you are hungry and desire a burger. Regular open tender is like going to the pasar malam and coming back with the cheapest burger. RFP on the other hand is like holding a contest, and inviting all the pasar malam burger stalls to participate. The stall that makes the tastiest burger and at the best price — but not necessarily the cheapest — gets the prize. The main difference between the two is that pric