Failing To Get Bids For Call Centre, Commonwealth Games 2010 Gives Contract To vCustomer

After finding no bidders to set up a call centre for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi through competitive bid- ding, the organizers have been compelled to appoint a busi- ness process outsourcing (BPO) firm.

"The contract was given to vCustomer on the recommen- dation of NIC (National Infor- matics Centre)," said Lalit Bh- anot, secretary general of the 2010 Games organizing com- mittee.

NIC is the primary informa- tion technology agency of the Indian government.

The organizing committee issued a tender inviting bids to operate the call centre six months ago, which failed to at- tract bids.

Senior officials of domestic BPO firms said they did not bid as the committee did not guar- antee any revenue; it was giv- ing the BPO operator an option of promoting its brand along side the Games.

Mid-size BPO firm vCustom- er has started setting up a team that will address phone que- ries regarding the Games from visitors, delegates and more than 30,000 volunteers, execu- tive director Navin Joshua said. The event runs from 3-14 October.