Lodha committee spells out tender guidelines for BCCI

MUMBAI: A day after the Indian cricket board (BCCI) batted for 'absolute transparency' in the Indian Premier League (IPL) media rights deal and called for an open tender process to ensure a fair bidding opportunity for all interested parties, sources close to the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Lodha Committee said it is waiting for the BCCI to present a detailed policy on how they would like

to go forward from here. Well-informed sources told TOI on Thursday: "The story that appeared in TOI on Wednesday speaks of the stance BCCI is willing to take on the issue, and that is fine. But as much as they have been posturing on transparency, so far they have only been talking. What they (Lodha committee) expect from the BCCI is a detailed policy in place, on how they want to go about with this tender process. That will be the first step forward."

TOI had reported on Thursday quoting BCCI sources the board's intention to tender the IPL media rights in the most transparent manner possible.

When asked why the BCCI officials haven't already discuss the issue with the Lodha committee, a top BCCI functionary said, "While we aren't really obliged to keep them informed on everything we do, we are certainly willing to sit across the table and discuss the way forward if they call us for a meeting. We haven't heard from them."

When told about BCCI's intent to be part a meeting to discuss the tender process if they are called, sources close to Lodha committee said: "We haven't heard from them (BCCI) even once post the July 18 judgment that they want to discuss the tender process. We only keep hearing they want to meet, they want to meet. We are more than willing to hear them out if they decide to come to us for a discussion."

Meanwhile, sources also spelt out clear guidelines on the process the Lodha committee would want the BCCI to follow before coming out with an Invitation To Tender (ITT). "They (committee) are curious to know what exactly is BCCI's policy?"

DESIRED CHANGES

These are basic guidelines the Lodha Committee expects BCCI to follow before the two parties meet to chalk out the way forward.

As per the timeline given to the BCCI, they have to first draw up a policy in terms of transparency.

Next, whatever tender or contract they come out with, they have to comply with that policy at all times. So the first step is to have a policy in place. The awarding of IPL rights has already been delayed and the delay could only be because the board is yet to draw up the policy on the way forward.

Most importantly, a pre-qualification criteria needs to be laid down somewhat on the following lines: A) Company should have been in the business of sports broadcast for certain number of years (whatever the policy stipulates); B) there should be an objective quality assessment of those eligible to take part in the bid; C) what is the body of work that the potential bidder brings to the table and what's the specific revenue stream that allows him to pour money into this new business.

Once these boxes are tick marked in the pre-qualification bid, BCCI should move into the bid stage - one being technical and the other being financial.

Between these two bid stages, financial is the second and last one. It is the technical bid that first needs to be ascertained, and the BCCI needs to bear in mind if the bidding party has the necessary wherewithal to take this forward.

If two parties are shortlisted after the technical bid assuming they have met the full criteria, then the financial bid needs to be opened.