Tendering officers urged to resist undue influence
Isaac Pinielo | Thursday December 1, 2016 16:12
Speaking at a capacity building workshop in Gaborone yesterday, PPADB executive chairperson Bridget John said the work that tendering personnel do is very important and demands professionalism, objectivity and independence.
“We need to pay particular attention to the vetting of invitation to tenders (ITTs) to ensure that specifications are thorough and without bias,” she said.
John also emphasised the need to ensure that evaluation criteria and basis of tender award are clear and that applicable socio-economic policies of government are factored in tender documents.
According to John, there are instances where some committees seem to allow ministries to become dependent on less competitive methods, which she said might open opportunities for corruption and deny other contractors an opportunity to participate in tenders.
“In procurement there are often conflicting interests hence we need to uphold the principles of accountability, fairness, equitable treatment of contractors and transparency, among others,” she said.
John further revealed that the PPADB had engaged the services of the World Bank to advise on the strengthening of the procurement function within government by delivering on three components.
These components included developing standardised and simplified bidding documents for common user items in supplies, services and works, developing the scheme of service and job profiles for procurement personnel as well as proposing a suitable procurement unit structure to ensure that procurement is handled by capable people, and facilitating PPADB to introduce a price guide for works, services and supplies that will serve as a reference point for evaluators to objectively assess and interrogate the reasonableness of prices quoted to address among others, the problem of overcharging by suppliers.
She indicated that a price guide has been completed and made available on the PPADB website.
“The board is currently in the process of collecting information to update the price guide and expand it to include other common user items in supplies, services and works,” said John.
The executive chairperson encouraged procurement personnel and MTC members to consider taking up part time procurement training to enhance their skills in procurement.
She said there is already a certificate programme in public procurement offered locally by the Botswana Accountancy College (BAC), which the PPADB contributed to its content and believe it provides a good foundation for public procurement practitioners.
Furthermore, she said BAC is preparing to offer a masters programme in procurement and logistics management in the coming year. These courses will contribute to the professionalisation of procurement in Botswana.