Two consortia have submitted bids in the repeated public procurement for meter reading services announced by Elektrodistribucija Srbije (EDS), according to the Public Procurement Portal on August 29.
The contract, now valued at 2.4 billion dinars (€20.9 million), has seen a long history of disputes. The previous tender, launched in October last year, saw EDS initially select a more expensive 12-million-euro bid led by Montop, owned by Marko Bosanac. This decision was twice partially overturned by the Republic Commission for the Protection of Rights in Public Procurement Procedures after appeals by a consortium led by Đerdap Usluge. EDS ultimately canceled the tender, incurring 2.6 million dinars in procedural costs.
In the interim, EDS considered reading meters internally, either via a mobile app, phone reporting, or by staff, who were offered a 10% pay increase. However, public response was lukewarm, and staffing limitations made this approach unfeasible.
In the new procurement, the first consortium, led by Đerdap Usluge along with Work and Care and Đerdap Usluge Security, submitted a bid of 2.45 billion dinars (€20.9 million, including VAT). The second consortium, led by T&M Group Solutions with Pro Tent, Dobergard, and Laborist HRS, offered 2.88 billion dinars (€24.6 million, including VAT) for the service.
