Dark horses Shenzhen Yitoa Intelligent Control Co of China and Supreme Distribution (Thailand) won yesterday's bidding for the second phase of the One Tablet per Child scheme to supply 1.22 million tablets, beating out Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development.
The Chinese firm clinched the bid for the first and second zones, while the Thai company won the contract for the third zone.
The Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) held an e-auction for the tablets yesterday seeking bidding winners to supply 1.63 million tablets.
Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana said Shenzhen Yitoa won a bid to supply 431,105 tablets for Prathom 1 students worth 842 million baht for the first zone in central and southern provinces.
The company offered a price of 1,953.12 baht per tablet, 28.2% lower than the median price set at 2,720 baht each.
The Chinese firm also won the bid to supply 373,637 tablets for Prathom 1 students worth 786 million baht for the second zone in the northern and northeastern provinces.
The company offered 2,103.64 baht per unit, 22.7% below the median price.
Supreme Distribution, meanwhile, proposed the lowest price for tablets in the third zone, covering Mathayom 1 students in the central and southern provinces, at 2,908.24 baht, down slightly from the median price of 2,920 baht.
The Thai computer assembly firm will supply 426,683 tablets worth 1.24 billion baht.
Obec postponed the bid for the fourth zone - covering some northern and northeastern provinces - to July, as Shenzhen Yitoa was the only bidder in the auction. The conditions require at least two bidders in competition.
Mr Phongthep said purchasing contracts are expected to be sealed in the week ahead. All winners are obliged to deliver their tablets within 90 days of signing contracts.
Panuwat Khantamoleekul, the managing director of Supreme Distribution, said the company could not offer a sharp rate cut since Mathayom 1 specifications are higher than those for Prathom 1.
He said his company will build its own factory in Thailand to assemble materials sourced from China.
It set up a local office here two decades ago and also won an earlier bid to supply tablets in Russia.