Montenegro’s Ministry of Public Works must repeat its evaluation of bids for construction works at the Hajla–Štedim ski centre in Rožaje after the public-procurement appeals commission upheld a complaint filed by construction company Bemax and overturned the previous contractor-selection decision.
The ministry had selected a consortium of Indel Inženjering and TOFI for the design and construction of the ski centre’s base station. The appeals commission identified deficiencies in the assessment of bidders’ technical qualifications and the supporting documentation submitted during the tender process. The contracting authority has been instructed to reassess the offers within 15 days.
Previous Contractor Selection Reopened
The commission’s ruling does not annul the entire procurement procedure or automatically exclude the previously selected consortium. Instead, the ministry must conduct a new evaluation in accordance with the standards identified in the decision.
The immediate consequence is an additional delay while the bids are reviewed. The final contractor has therefore not yet been determined, and the next significant step will be the ministry’s revised selection decision, which could itself face further challenges.
Delays Affect Northern Tourism Development
The procurement concerns the Hajla–Štedim project, which forms part of Montenegro’s broader plans to develop ski and year-round tourism infrastructure around Rožaje and expand tourism activity beyond the Adriatic coast.
Public investment in ski centres, access roads and related facilities has already encountered delays across several projects in northern Montenegro. Tender disputes create additional uncertainty for construction schedules and the implementation of planned investments.
For contractors, the procurement appeals process provides a mechanism to challenge inconsistent or insufficient evaluation of bids. For public authorities, repeated challenges can postpone construction and increase the possibility that allocated capital budgets remain unspent.
Construction Timetables and Project Implementation
Mountain tourism projects face particular scheduling constraints because construction periods depend heavily on weather conditions. A delay lasting several months can consequently affect an entire construction season.
The case also raises broader questions about Montenegro’s capacity to prepare projects and manage public procurement while implementing an expanding infrastructure programme that includes tourism facilities, motorway and railway investments, and environmental projects.
