A losing bidder to upgrade Victoria's public transport ticketing system has raised fears about the $1.7 billion contract winner's ability to deliver tap and go technology.
California-based outfit Cubic has written to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to complain about possible errors in the government tender process.
The government last month handed New Jersey-based company Conduent a 15-year deal to overhaul and operate the outdated myki system.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said commuters would soon be able to pay with bank cards and mobile phones and noted Conduent operated more than 400 ticketing systems, including in Paris, Dubai, Montreal and New Jersey.
But in the letter Cubic claimed Conduent had overstated its experience, with none of those systems accepting bank card or phone payments.
"We urge you to personally evaluate if the right decision was made, particularly since the selected provider has not yet successfully delivered the technologies and services that the state is seeking," reads the letter to the premier.
Mr Andrews said he had no advice to investigate the tender process over the complaints. This includes claims government officials were still in talks with Conduent after Cubic made its final bid submission.
"Politicians don't sit down and evaluate the bids," Mr Andrews said on Tuesday.
"I've got no advice to suggest that there's any issues with this process. Indeed, quite the contrary."
In state budget estimates, Mr Carroll said the two-year process was extremely thorough and claims of unfairness were baseless.
"I understand that different companies, when they aren’t selected and they haven’t been awarded the contract, may be upset," he told the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee.
Mr Carroll maintained Conduent had a proven track record of operating a successful system in 24 countries.
"I've seen it, I've used it, I've experienced it," he said.
Conduent, Cubic and myki's current Japanese-headquartered operator NTT Data were the final bidders for the government contract.
Cubic suggested its bid was $100 million cheaper than Conduent.
Department of Transport and Planning deputy secretary of investment and technology Dean Tighe told budget estimates the cost of each bid was a factor but officials didn't opt for the cheapest option.
Conduent is set to officially take over from NTT Data on December 1 but the Victorian opposition is calling for the contract to be suspended until a parliamentary inquiry probes Cubic's complaint.
Opposition public transport Richard Riordan said the updated myki system would be different to the tap and go platforms operated in London, New York and Sydney.
"The Victorian people have been sold a pup," he said.
"What Conduent operate is a tap and top up process, which essentially means that you use your credit card or your debit card but you have to have an account set up."
The upgraded technology will be trialled next year before being rolled out more broadly in 2025.
