As you all know, there are two billing systems: for low tension
consumers like us and for high tension consumers like industries. The
billing system for LT consumers was the one built in-house on GNU/Linux,
called Oruma. This is now deployed all over the state and has been
working without any problem for one year. The billing system for HT
could possibly have been built by modifying Oruma, but for some unknown
reason, this is being contracted to some private company.
The request for proposals had apparently *mandated* FOSS platform. The
HT billing system is being implemented under the APDRP (Accelerated
Power Development and Reform Programme) of the Government of India. The
consultant for this programme is one Feedback Ventures ("India's Leading
Integrated Infrastructure Services Company"). There was only one
company, Omne Agate, that could meet the requirement of FOSS ( and,
obviously, this had to be somehow shot down. The Manorama story becomes
relevant in this context.) It seems the Manorama story did not succeed
in doing what it was expected to do. So Feedback Ventures said that
though Omni Agate is compliant on FOSS, it has proposed a large number
of applications which would be custom built for KSEB. This may be
fraught with high risk since this is a time bound program and timely
implementation is vital. Interestingly, though FOSS was a mandatory
requirement, they recommended that this may be put up to the board for a
"final" decision. The Board decision was that all the bidders be asked
to give an undertaking that thier solution would be accessed and
operated on a FOSS environment.
Originally, it seems, Omne Agate was given 37/50 for their technical
evaluation. But when it was found that they were the only company that
fully met the RFP, including the mandated FOSS, their score was reduced
to 33.5. Since a minimum of 35 was required to survive in the technical
round, they were got rid of.
I understand that the RFP, apart from mandating FOSS, had said that the
firm should provide KSEB 'unlimited license for unlimited period'. Now
it is 150 licenses for 5 years.
I am told that the work is already awarded but the contract is not yet
signed. So we need to act quickly.
Best
Sasi
--
V. Sasi Kumar
Free Software Foundation of India
http://swatantryam.blogspot.com
--
"Freedom is the only law".
"Freedom Unplugged"
http://www.ilug-tvm.org
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