Two vendors respond to Karnataka’s vaccine tender

Two Bengaluru-based vendors have responded to Karnataka’s global tender to buy 20 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine, the state government said on Tuesday, a day after the deadline to submit expression of interest ended.

Any progress in procurement of vaccines will depend on these firms clearing the technical round, after which the state will start price negotiations. “Two Bengaluru-based suppliers, Bulk MRO and Tulasi Systems, have shown interest in the vaccine procurement. We are verifying their documents and if they clear this stage, we will go for rate negotiation. These suppliers can procure vaccines from manufacturers and supply to the state,” Karnataka state medical supplies corporation managing director KS Latha Kumari told ET. It is not yet clear how two local suppliers who have participated in Karnataka’s tender will procure vaccines from overseas manufacturers. It is likely to be known only after the tender documents are verified.