Thai Govt Delays Computer Tablet Deal-Signing As Deadline Guarantee Missed

[tlansford]

Two articles on the success of the good old One Laptop per Child, or OLPC project, a world wide program initiated years ago. Even Thailand had run a trial once, in Samak times, if I remember correctly. The current One Tablet Per Child (ten children, actually) program is an evolution of that same project. OLPC itself is preparing to release the tablet version of their hundred dollar laptops.

http://arstechnica.c...ning-begins.ars

http://www.economist.../node/21552202/

In short - there are many signs of progress after running these OLPC machines in number of countries for a few years - computer literacy, internet penetration, public access to free wifi and so on. There's only one area that didn't see any improvements at all - education itself.

Using these computers on a daily basis at schools had no effect on children's math or reading skills. a

Granted, people might object to using "old" testing methods and point out at problems at the implementation stage that could be corrected, like proper teacher education. To this I can reply that you can solve problems with proper teacher education without buying computers or tablets, ie presence of technology does not address problems in education. It rather wastes time on wild goose chases that divert resources from applying them where they are really needed.

I agree that tools alone will not change how well kids learn.

your article also points out that

"Teachers indicated the laptops helped them teach more, in less time, and with greater depth. For their students, many teachers reported that their students learned more and with greater depth and understanding."

And it is clear in the articles that it depends on how the laptops are used within the system

Which makes perfect sense: a slide rule didn't make kids better at math, nor did calculators, nor did computer labs... It is equally clear that tablets will not "make" kids better at reading, writing, and math, but they will make many more kids computer literate which is an important requirement in the job-market. It also produces the other broader benefits within society that you mentioned.

Equally hard to measure in test results are the benefits of autonomy. Providing tools that allow kids to explore and learn more on their own through a tool like a tablet that gives the kids access to information can clearly make learning for a lot of kids more interesting and fun. But how can we relate that back to reading test results?? That is one of the difficult issues in evaluating programs like these.

[letitbe]

its impossible to have a brain and not be negative with this bunch of clowns

In the context of TVF that has to be the most accurate and inaccurate post of the decade.

its impossible to have a brain and not be negative with this bunch of clowns

In the context of TVF that has to be the most accurate and inaccurate post of the decade.

which bit is inaccurate id love to know if its all thais know then ok only 90%+ or do you think they are all as stupid as they seem

[Thaddeus]

which bit is inaccurate id love to know if its all thais know then ok only 90%+ or do you think they are all as stupid as they seem

Who said I was talking about the Thais

[Buchholz]

Interesting editorial in the other paper this morning regarding the rapidly approaching schools' opening date in a month with no sign of the promised tablets showing up in the classrooms by that time.

.

Edited April 10, 2012 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

Abhisit didn't have such ridiculous ideas,that kind of ideas are sole properietorship of the Shinawatra clan.

You remember their previous promise, one child one laptop.Did actually one single child get a laptop?

They also said they were just 'election promises'. They may have meant (literally) one child...one laptop. Just have to find that child.

Found him already

It figures that the one child would be her own son.

.

Edited April 10, 2012 by Buchholz

[sparebox2]

Fake and heavily overpriced tablets for less smart Thai students.

I pity the students.

[thaihome]

A Bank Guarantee of 5-15% is quite normal in international contracting. The higher the value of the contract, the more likely the guarantee would be set towards the lower end.

As posted earlier, once the value of the bond is large enough to get the bidder/contractor's top management attention, the law of diminishing returns starts to apply. If it's too high you may also reduce the competitive forces in the bidding, as potential bidders shy away from the increased exposure. Bear in mind that any bidder/contractor is probably bidding/contracting to other clients with similar high valued contracts. Their potential financial exposure to having any one (or more) of their high value bank guarantees encashed, across all bids/contracts, could therefore be quite high.

In this context, bear in mind the domino effect on security concerns with potential Chinese IT suppliers, as noted in others posts.

Regards

R21

PS Bonds should not be encashed arbitrarily. To do so could cause you to lose any reputation you might have had as a responsible potential client - once bitten, twice shy!

You are correct about the bond/bank guarantee and financial exposure to puts contractors under. A performance bond is basically a line of credit that the contractor must take out that the owner can call upon for non-performance of the contract. Banks consider it the same thing as taking out a loan and use pretty much the same criteria as a loan when issuing.

To me, the puzzling part of this is the requirement to the have the performance guarantee in order to sign the contract. In my experience with a number of very large international contracts with a Thai government owned corporation, the requirement was always that the performance guarantee was required after the contract signing and the before the submittal of the first invoice for work performed. Many companies need the signed contract in order to have collateral for the guarantee.

The requirement to be able to provide the guarantee before signing is often used to weed out financially weaker bidders in favor of your preferred one.

TH

[Route21]

To me, the puzzling part of this is the requirement to the have the performance guarantee in order to sign the contract. In my experience with a number of very large international contracts with a Thai government owned corporation, the requirement was always that the performance guarantee was required after the contract signing and the before the submittal of the first invoice for work performed. Many companies need the signed contract in order to have collateral for the guarantee.

The requirement to be able to provide the guarantee before signing is often used to weed out financially weaker bidders in favor of your preferred one.

TH

To answer your 2 points:

1. Guarantees can be used in many scenarios in international contracting situations, The two situations considered above are a) a Bid Bond and a [Contract] Performance Bank Guarantee.

The Bid Bond is primarily to ensure that a bidder doesn't renege on their bid or any commitments they have made during the bidding period. We had a case, I understand, where a winning bidder, having been awarded the Contract on a [conditional*] "Letter of Award" wanted to renegotiate the legal/commercial Terms and Conditions as a precondition of signing the "hard copy" Contract! They were advised that they were putting their Bid Bond at risk but still insisted on renegotiation. I understand that Corporate approval was given to encash the Bid Bond and the Contract was promptly awarded to the second best bidder. The Bid Bond was used to defray the incremental cost of going to the second best bidder.

* The "Letter of Award" was firm, but conditional on the bidder providing a) the Contract Performance Bond and appropriate Insurance documentation etc within a certain number of days of the LoA and signing the "hard copy" Contract.

2. Yes, being able to provide a Bid Bond does help confirm that they are bona fide contenders, but one other thing we used to do was to ask them to provide a letter from a bank (a "Bank Certificate") certifying that, in the event of them winning the Contract, the bank would be prepared to issue the appropriate [Contract] Performance Bond. If they can't find a bank that is prepared to issue the Performance Bond that would raise cause for suspicion and probably prompt further investigation of their financial position. They don't actually have to use the same bank for the actual guarantee.

Note: Other forms of guarantee provided, separately, by Contractors, but used in different circumstances, might include a Bank Guarantee enabling any maintenance/tax retention moneys to be released earlier than would otherwise have been the case or a Parent Company Guarantee (particularly if the company concerned was a "paper company" where any assets that you may want access to, in the event of any problems, are owned at a "higher" level in the overall organisation than the company signing the Contract.

PS As an additional level of security, we never advised the unsuccessful bidders or returned any Bid Bonds until the ink was dry on the "hard copy" Contract. The successful bidder only received their Bid Bond back when they had not only signed the Contract but provided the Performance Bond.

Hope this helps

R21

[hellodolly]

Interesting editorial in the other paper this morning regarding the rapidly approaching schools' opening date in a month with no sign of the promised tablets showing up in the classrooms by that time.

.

How about electricity in all schools.

So far they have fell flat on their face in trying to get pad's out to a few selected students and done nothing to upgrade the schools or the teachers ability.

[pipo1000]

I thought there would another attemp to sign the contract on the 16th or 17th,yet no news report on the outcome.

Is the whole thing under the carpet already?

[Buchholz]

I thought there would another attemp to sign the contract on the 16th or 17th,yet no news report on the outcome.

Is the whole thing under the carpet already?

April 17th was the date assigned for signing the contract, but nothing happened.

Now today... it's

we'll discuss this further

(as the first day of school approaches even closer)

oh, and btw, we'll be needing more money for distribution

ICT Minister expected to discuss tablet issues with Chinese supplier

Information and Communications Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap was reportedly to meet with high-ranking executives of Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development in China, where they were expected to discuss issues surrounding the tablets the ministry will procure for the One Tablet Per Child project.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and several Cabinet members, including Anudith, are on a three-day official visit to China that ends today.

The state procurement panel for the tablet project reportedly will seek Bt50 million from the Cabinet for contracting Thailand Post to distribute the devices to Prathom 1 classes nationwide.

The ICT Ministry has been waiting for the Office of the Attorney-General to finish reviewing the newest draft of the purchase contract so the ministry can sign the contract to purchase 1 million tablets from the Chinese supplier.

The Cabinet on April 10 approved the ministry's proposal to procure 1 million tablet computers on a budget not exceeding Bt3 billion or Bt2,400 per unit, a change from 900,000 units on a budget of Bt1.9 billion. The increase is to include devices for teachers and two spare units per school. The Cabinet also approved the change of the person authorised to sign the purchase contract from the ICT minister to the ICT permanent secretary.

The One Tablet Per Child policy was a part of the Pheu Thai Party's election campaign.

-- The Nation 2012-04-19

[thaihome]

To me, the puzzling part of this is the requirement to the have the performance guarantee in order to sign the contract. In my experience with a number of very large international contracts with a Thai government owned corporation, the requirement was always that the performance guarantee was required after the contract signing and the before the submittal of the first invoice for work performed. Many companies need the signed contract in order to have collateral for the guarantee.

The requirement to be able to provide the guarantee before signing is often used to weed out financially weaker bidders in favor of your preferred one.

TH

To answer your 2 points:

1. Guarantees can be used in many scenarios in international contracting situations, The two situations considered above are a) a Bid Bond and a [Contract] Performance Bank Guarantee.

The Bid Bond is primarily to ensure that a bidder doesn't renege on their bid or any commitments they have made during the bidding period. We had a case, I understand, where a winning bidder, having been awarded the Contract on a [conditional*] "Letter of Award" wanted to renegotiate the legal/commercial Terms and Conditions as a precondition of signing the "hard copy" Contract! They were advised that they were putting their Bid Bond at risk but still insisted on renegotiation. I understand that Corporate approval was given to encash the Bid Bond and the Contract was promptly awarded to the second best bidder. The Bid Bond was used to defray the incremental cost of going to the second best bidder.

* The "Letter of Award" was firm, but conditional on the bidder providing a) the Contract Performance Bond and appropriate Insurance documentation etc within a certain number of days of the LoA and signing the "hard copy" Contract.

2. Yes, being able to provide a Bid Bond does help confirm that they are bona fide contenders, but one other thing we used to do was to ask them to provide a letter from a bank (a "Bank Certificate") certifying that, in the event of them winning the Contract, the bank would be prepared to issue the appropriate [Contract] Performance Bond. If they can't find a bank that is prepared to issue the Performance Bond that would raise cause for suspicion and probably prompt further investigation of their financial position. They don't actually have to use the same bank for the actual guarantee.

Note: Other forms of guarantee provided, separately, by Contractors, but used in different circumstances, might include a Bank Guarantee enabling any maintenance/tax retention moneys to be released earlier than would otherwise have been the case or a Parent Company Guarantee (particularly if the company concerned was a "paper company" where any assets that you may want access to, in the event of any problems, are owned at a "higher" level in the overall organisation than the company signing the Contract.

PS As an additional level of security, we never advised the unsuccessful bidders or returned any Bid Bonds until the ink was dry on the "hard copy" Contract. The successful bidder only received their Bid Bond back when they had not only signed the Contract but provided the Performance Bond.

Hope this helps

R21

No it doesn't help because the bid bond is not the issue.

The issue is if the performance guarantee is required to be presented at contract signing rather than at the time of submittal of the first invoice.

In my experience in Thailand with government owned corporations on contracts worth 100’s of million USD the performance bond is not required at contract signing, but must presented before the first invoice is paid.

The reason for that is simple; a contractor is going to have to show a signed contract to the bank in order to get the bond unless they have a really good credit rating.

TH

[Buchholz]

I thought there would another attemp to sign the contract on the 16th or 17th,yet no news report on the outcome.

Is the whole thing under the carpet already?

April 17th was the date assigned for signing the contract, but nothing happened.

Now today... it's

we'll discuss this further

(as the first day of school approaches even closer)

oh, and btw, we'll be needing more money for distribution

Bt50 Million Sought to Cover School Tablet PCs Distribution Cost

A committee overseeing the school tablet PCs program is seeking additional 50 million baht from the government's central budget to pay for the distribution of the devices.

Meanwhile, the ICT Minister has met with the Chinese contractor to wrap up pending issues.

The committee overseeing the free tablet PCs scheme, chaired by Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Ministry Worapat Tewthanom, held several meetings last week to deliberate pending issues in the procurement process, including the cost of distributing the devices to eligible schools nationwide.

Recently, the committee resolved to seek the Cabinet's approval of 50 million baht from the central budget to pay for the distribution cost.

It was also agreed that Thailand Post will handle the distribution.

ICT Minister Group Captain Anudith Nakornthap, who is part of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's delegation on a three-day official visit to China, has met with senior executives of ShenZhen Scope Scientific Development to discuss details about the purchase of one million tablet PCs for first-grade students in the upcoming school semester.

Anudith said the government is currently awaiting the Office of Attorney-General's review of a draft procurement contract which was sent last week.

He noted that normally the review takes around 45 days, but the process could be completed by next week due to the urgency of the matter.

The minister added the signing could take place as soon as the contract is reviewed and endorsed by the OAG.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-19

[Buchholz]

China ready to sign MOU on tablet PC acquisition with Thailand

BANGKOK, 19 April 2012 (NNT) – Chinese investors have expressed their readiness to sign an MOU on tablet PC acquisition with Thailand while the investment value from this cooperation is expected to be worth no less than 67 Billion Baht.

Acting Government Spokesperson Anusorn Iamsa-ard has indicated that the government’s One Tablet PC per Child policy is seeing much progress as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra held discussions with executives from top Chinese companies during her official visit to China, in order to build confidence and hear out their opinions on investment in Thailand.

The meeting was successful given a great number of Chinese entrepreneurs have shown enthusiasm in collaborating with Thailand.

It is expected that no less than 67 Billion Baht will be generated as a result of the signing of the MOU on tablet PC acquisition.

Mr. Anusorn added that the manufacturer of tablet PCs for Thai first graders, Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development Co. Ltd, has allowed the Thai delegation to test a ready-to-use sample of the tablet PC.

Confident that the devices will be ready for the beginning of the new school year, he told students, teachers and parents to be prepared for the use of tablet PCs as part of a child’s learning process.

-- NNT 2012-04-19

Edited April 19, 2012 by Buchholz

[Buchholz]

ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap

The Bt1.9-billion project has proceeded in strict compliance with all laws and regulations, he said.

It is expected that no less than 67 Billion Baht will be generated as a result of the signing of the MOU on tablet PC acquisition.

somehow, it's morphed into a lot more baht in value to the Chinese....

spare parts?

how much of the now 67 Billion Baht will be coming from the taxpayers?

.

Edited April 19, 2012 by Buchholz

[sparebox2]

Terms open next month. No way she can make it.

[Ricardo]

ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap

The Bt1.9-billion project has proceeded in strict compliance with all laws and regulations, he said.

It is expected that no less than 67 Billion Baht will be generated as a result of the signing of the MOU on tablet PC acquisition.

somehow, it's morphed into a lot more baht in value to the Chinese....

spare parts?

how much of the now 67 Billion Baht will be coming from the taxpayers?

.

I'm guessing 130%-140% ?

[pipo1000]

China ready to sign MOU on tablet PC acquisition with Thailand

BANGKOK, 19 April 2012 (NNT) – Chinese investors have expressed their readiness to sign an MOU on tablet PC acquisition with Thailand while the investment value from this cooperation is expected to be worth no less than 67 Billion Baht.

Acting Government Spokesperson Anusorn Iamsa-ard has indicated that the government’s One Tablet PC per Child policy is seeing much progress as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra held discussions with executives from top Chinese companies during her official visit to China, in order to build confidence and hear out their opinions on investment in Thailand.

The meeting was successful given a great number of Chinese entrepreneurs have shown enthusiasm in collaborating with Thailand.

It is expected that no less than 67 Billion Baht will be generated as a result of the signing of the MOU on tablet PC acquisition.

Mr. Anusorn added that the manufacturer of tablet PCs for Thai first graders, Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development Co. Ltd, has allowed the Thai delegation to test a ready-to-use sample of the tablet PC.

Confident that the devices will be ready for the beginning of the new school year, he told students, teachers and parents to be prepared for the use of tablet PCs as part of a child’s learning process.

-- NNT 2012-04-19

Must be months ago already that I read they would get 1000 tablets delivered for testing within 15 days,so as of today they were allowed to test 1 ( ONE - UNO- หนึ่ง ) piece and they most probably were not allowed to take it home.

Are you sure this is a coordination between governments,or just someone who is trying to buy something from Alibaba.com.

Edited April 19, 2012 by pipo1000

[Buchholz]

China ready to sign MOU on tablet PC acquisition with Thailand

BANGKOK, 19 April 2012 (NNT) – Chinese investors have expressed their readiness to sign an MOU on tablet PC acquisition with Thailand while the investment value from this cooperation is expected to be worth no less than 67 Billion Baht.

Acting Government Spokesperson Anusorn Iamsa-ard has indicated that the government’s One Tablet PC per Child policy is seeing much progress as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra held discussions with executives from top Chinese companies during her official visit to China, in order to build confidence and hear out their opinions on investment in Thailand.

The meeting was successful given a great number of Chinese entrepreneurs have shown enthusiasm in collaborating with Thailand.

It is expected that no less than 67 Billion Baht will be generated as a result of the signing of the MOU on tablet PC acquisition.

Mr. Anusorn added that the manufacturer of tablet PCs for Thai first graders, Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development Co. Ltd, has allowed the Thai delegation to test a ready-to-use sample of the tablet PC.

Confident that the devices will be ready for the beginning of the new school year, he told students, teachers and parents to be prepared for the use of tablet PCs as part of a child’s learning process.

-- NNT 2012-04-19

Must be months ago already that I read they would get 1000 tablets delivered for testing within 15 days,so as of today they were allowed to test 1 ( ONE - UNO- หนึ่ง ) piece and they most probably were not allowed to take it home.

Are you sure this is a coordination between governments,or just someone who is trying to buy something from Alibaba.com.

"one"....

they were talking earlier about having 50,000 in their hands by 11 days from now.

likely ask that the first batch of tablets total 50,000 units. "During the negotiating rounds, we talked about 2,000 units in the first lot, but we may well need to increase the number," he said.

need the devices early to train the trainers on their use before the end of April.

[Buchholz]

Schools May Not Get Tablet PCs Next Month

The Information and Communication Technology Minister would not confirm whether the free tablet PCs would be distributed to schools by the beginning of the new academic year next month, pointing out the procurement contract is being drafted and has yet to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

Information and Communication Technology Minister Group Captain Anudith Nakornthap has reported the progress of the free tablet PCs project for students, saying that the procurement contract is being drafted.

Once completed, it will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval.

The signing will take place once the contracted supplier receives all of the documents. Anudith would not specify the project's exact time frame, saying once the contract is signed, the first batch of 400,000 tablet PCs must be delivered in 60 days and the other 500,000 will be shipped in 90 days or sooner.

The ICT Minister said students may have to take about one month to adjust to the new academic year. Because of this, they are expected to actually use the tablet PCs sometime in July.

Anudith stressed that the tablet PCs are only a supplemental tool to the lessons taught in class. He also denied a news report that there is disagreement between the ICT and Education ministries on what applications should be installed in the tablet PCs.

He said the project is nearly complete and the students will certainly receive their tablet PCs by the first semester of the new school year.

Meanwhile, acting Government Spokesperson Anusorn Iamsa-ard reported that during the visit to China, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra met with executives of ShenZhen Scope Scientific Development, the contracted tablet PC supplier, and got a chance to ask questions and try out the actual tablet PCs.

-- Tan Network 2012-04-19

[ginjag]

""Pledges""" ???????   ha ha  another one bites the dust, the government want tablets---but the other type.

[pipo1000]

Meanwhile, acting Government Spokesperson Anusorn Iamsa-ard reported that during the visit to China, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra met with executives of ShenZhen Scope Scientific Development, the contracted tablet PC supplier, and got a chance to ask questions and try out the actual tablet PCs.

Yingluck asking questions,that must be the first time as long as she has been pm.

[Buchholz]

Meanwhile, acting Government Spokesperson Anusorn Iamsa-ard reported that during the visit to China, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra met with executives of ShenZhen Scope Scientific Development, the contracted tablet PC supplier, and got a chance to ask questions and try out the actual tablet PCs.

Yingluck asking questions,that must be the first time as long as she has been pm.

"Gosh, how come these cheap knock-off tablets aren't like my Samsung Galaxy?"