PPADB tightens screws on government tendering

Boitshepo Majube | Sunday December 8, 2013 21:17

 

Bridget Poppy John, Executive Chairperson of PPADB said at the launch of their new strategy that they want to limit selective or direct appointment of contractors by ministries.

“Instead we want to use open tender more often as it gives value for money and brings out the best from contractors,” John said.

She explained that selective or direct appointment, is a procurement method that has been used by ministries to appoint a contractor, without going through the stages of appointment due to various reasons.

“Sometimes it happens when there is only one contractor in that category, who can render required services,” she said.

John said they will urge ministries to make their procurement plan well in time. “If procurement plans are made on time it makes our jobs easy,” she said.

She said that under the new strategy, they will make sure that there is utmost compliance to procurement procedures by all procuring entities and other parties. “We want the public to have confidence in the procurement system; an environment where there is transparency, integrity and no tolerance for corruption,” she said.

John said they will also develop a public confidence index and monitor and improve public confidence in the procurement system.

To improve the level of efficiency and effectiveness of operations of the PPADB, John said they would implement performance standards, develop a project management process and develop and implement an innovation framework.

“We would also map and document the strategy implementation process,” she said, further noting that they will develop an initiative prioritisation framework.

John said they would also implement a strategy monitoring plan.

Answering a question from the floor on whether the PPADB is independent from political interference, John said they operate independently and they have never had any problem with any ministry.

“We have never had any problem with any ministry, even after rejecting ministries’ request,” she said, adding that they will continue doing their job without fear or favour.