Council of State cancels İstanbul historic train station tender excluding municipal companies

Haydarpaşa Train Station (Photo: Flickr)

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The Council of State 13th Chamber has ruled a tender about the use of İstanbul's two historic train stations —Haydarpaşa on the Asian side and Sirkeci on the European side of the city— for cultural activities was unlawful because it violated the equal competition rules.

The companies of the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), which is held by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), were excluded from the tender.

The Council of State overturned a decision by the Regional Court of Justice, stating that "In case of bidding by the joint venture of the IMM, the request of each partner for a work experience certificate of 4 million Turkish lira (a total of 16 million TL work experience certificate as the joint venture consists of four companies) narrowed the competition and was a regulation that violated the conditions of equal competition."

The IMM's joint venture was excluded from the tender process because it did not meet this condition and the sole remaining company eventually won the tender.

What happened?

The Turkish State Railways (TCDD) lodged a tender for the non-commercial use of 29,000 square meters of idle storage areas on October 4, 2019. The monthly rent of the areas was stated as 30,000 lira (1 USD = 8.1 TRY).

Out of four companies that participated in the tender process, the IMM's joint venture and Hezarfen Consultancy LLC got into the finals.

While the IMM consortium offered 100,000 lira for a month, the Hezarfen Consultancy LLC offered 300,000 lira.

The tender commission announced that both parties would be called for negotiations within 15 days. However, the IMM consortium was not invited and it was announced that the tender was awarded to the other company with a monthly rent of 350,000 lira. (TP/VK)