Getting the draft regulations for debarment and suspension of contractors approved by the end of the year is still possible, Chairperson of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) Carol Corbin told a stakeholder engagement yesterday.
The one-day meeting, which was the first in in a series of stakeholders’ engagements on the draft regulations, was hosted by the PPC yesterday at the Regency Suites on Hadfield Street and saw the participation of several national agencies.
Giving the opening remarks, Corbin explained the genesis of the draft regulations, which she had previously said would be at Parliament for approval by the end of the year. “I noted only recently that it was a year ago that the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) provided a copy of the draft suspension and debarment regulations for its review. I also recalled that in January this year I made a statement to the media that the Commission will take the requisite actions to ensure that these regulations would be approved by parliament by the end of 2018. On reflection, that was a very optimistic revelation on my part but as you listen to my presentation you will agree with me that it still can be achieved,” Corbin said.
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A key Inter-American Development report (IDB) has recommended that countries in the region, including Guyana, implement a number of measures aimed at improving public procurement.
The report, titled ‘Better spending for better lives: How Latin America and the Caribbean can do more with less’, has identified poor procurement practices as a contributor to wasted public funds.
Among its recommendations for countries in the region are for governments to avoid single sourced contracts and concentrate on competitive bidding. In fact, it was advised that open tendering be the default method of procurement.
“Use competitive and efficient tendering and limit the use of exceptions and single source procurement,” the report states. “Use open tendering as the default method and modern tools (such as) framework agreements, electronic catalogues and reverse auctions for standardised products.”
In addition, the report advises that governments in the region publish annual procurement plans, as part of a comprehensive framework that would set out the Government’s goals and priority areas.
“Publishing annual procurement plans increases accountability of contracting authorities, as they need to justify diverging from the plan,” the report points out, attributing this piece of advice to the European Commission.
The report also advises that all stages of public procurement, including all Government personnel involved in the process, be brought under a centralised procurement agency. And while Guyana does have a National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), the report also advises that this agency oversee and promote training of personnel.
Single sourcing
Over the past few years, Guyana has been plagued with instances of single sourced contracts. One instance in particular is a contract for which Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson sought permission from Cabinet to single source. That transaction is now engaging the attention of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).
The contract in question was awarded to Dutch company, LievenseCSO, for a feasibility study into the new Demerara River bridge. The parliamentary Opposition had requested that the Public Procurement Commission investigate the award of the $148 million sole sourced contract.
In its report on the matter, the Commission flagged Minister Patterson for requesting from Cabinet that the contract be sole sourced… instead of being processed through the Procurement Board, as stipulated by law.
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Image: niekverlaan (Pixabay)
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The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States/Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (OECS/PPS) is announcing a new partnership with the Caribbean Public Health Agency/ Caribbean Regulatory System (CARPHA/CRS) that will require all anti-retroviral (ARVs) medicines to receive approval by the CRS in order to participate in the upcoming OECS/PPS ARV tender in June of 2019.
The CRS is a regional regulatory mechanism, endorsed by Ministers of Health from CARICOM states, that is implemented in technical collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). The CRS seeks to increase the number of quality products on the CARICOM market through reliance on a select group of reference authorities for medicines approvals, including the US Food and Drug Administration and WHO Prequalification Program.
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Image: Gatis Gribusts (flickr)
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Closing Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2018
The Government of Montserrat is inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the post of INTERIM CHIEF PROCUREMENT OFFICER for a period of 6 months within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management.
JOB PURPOSE
To provide support to the Ministry specific procurement policies and planning, and provide the lead technical support in government procurement matters.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:
- Arranging all Meetings in consultation with the Chairman of the Public Procurement Board (PPB);
- Preparing all necessary documentation and circulating to members of the PPB in preparation for meetings;
- Recording, collating and circulating the minutes of meetings held by the PPB and preparing the annual schedule of PPB meetings for the approval of the Chairman;
- Managing the procurement process for the PPB. Receiving tenders and ensuring that submission deadlines are met and receipts are issued to tenderers;
- Ensuring the security of all tenders;
- Maintaining the MoFEM Contracts Register, and monitoring Registers of Ministries and Departments;
- Securing all rejected tenders and ensuring that they are returned to tenderer;
- Informing all tenderer’s/bidders of the contract awards made by the PPB;
- Advising the various Ministries on matters relevant to the procedures to be followed on Procurement;
- Attending and monitoring Departmental Tenders Committee meetings;
- Publishing all relevant Procurement reports;
- Conducting relevant Training in procurement methods;
- Assisting in the development and maintenance of documented standards for procurement governance and procurement process which results in value for money outcomes and minimise procurement risk;
- Developing, maintaining, monitoring and updating MOFEM’s contract management and contractor management policies, systems and processes;
- Facilitating and supporting best practice tendering and contracting activities to include:
- Scrutinizing tender documents for compliance with standards
- Publishing Tender adverts
- Managing tender opening
- Reviewing proposed contract documents
- Preparing contract documents for signature
- Arranging the signing of contract documents
- Facilitating expenditure reviews to identify opportunities to add value through improved procurement
- Developing and maintaining a reporting system for contractor and suppliers performance
- Developing and maintaining a reporting system which measures the contribution of the procurement process
- Contributing to the development of the Ministry’s Strategic Planning and budgeting process and developing operational plans for Unit
- Ensuring compliance with the GoM Performance Management and Development System within the Procurement function; undertaking periodical performance appraisal of team members.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The candidates should:
- Have a degree in Public Policy or Business Management or related field from an accredited institution; a Masters’ Degree in Public Policy, Public Sector Management, Business Management, Finance or related field would be an asset.
- Have at least five (5) years’ experience in a managerial or senior supervisory role; three of which must be in the area of procurement and contract management practice and methods, or financial management.
- Have exposure to government operations at a middle management level.
- Have Certification in Procurement through the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) (or prepared to study)
- Be familiar with current GoM procurement legislation
- Have a high level of verbal and written skills including the ability to compile reports in relation to complex technical and contractual matters in a logical , clear and concise manner;
- Have good negotiating, communications (written and oral) and presentation skills;
- Be computer literate – experience with word processing and database capabilities;
- Have planning and organization skills;
- Have the ability to lead and develop a small team
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT
Appointments will be made on Contractual basis for a period of 6 months.
REMUNERATION PACKAGE
Basic salary is at R7, that is, EC$74,760 per annum (Taxable).
Allowances
- Travel – EC$9,600.00 per annum (non-taxable)
- Telephone – EC$720.00 per annum (taxable)
- Entertainment – EC$3,600.00 per annum (non-taxable)
HOW TO APPLY
Application forms can be obtained from the Government of Montserrat’s website at http://www.jobs.gov.ms. (Click on ‘Forms’). Application forms can also be obtained from the Human Resources Management Unit, Brades, Montserrat by e-mail to hrmu@gov.ms or by telephone at 1 (664) 491-2365/2444 or by fax at 1 (664) 491-6234.
Applicants must provide all of the following information:
- A completed Application Form with a covering letter
- A comprehensive curriculum vitae with full particulars of experience, and copies of relevant academic qualifications.
NOTE: Original certificates of qualifications or official notarized copies will be requested from those invited to interview
- A clear statement detailing why in the applicant’s view he/she considers him/herself well qualified for the position
- Two letters of reference with full contact details of the referees
Completed application forms must be returned to the Human Resources Management Unit either by email, or by fax or by ordinary mail. These should be addressed to the Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources Management Unit, Government Headquarters, Brades, Montserrat.
SELECTION PROCESS
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in a selection process that involves attending one or more interviews and/or assessment centres. These interviews are designed to assess the skills, competencies and attitudes of the applicant and may be conducted via SKYPE or in person. The Interviews and/or Assessment Centres allow the Selection Panel to draw on more evidence about the applicants than can be derived from the written application.
The deadline for the receipt of applications is 4:00 p.m. Wednesday 24th October, 2018.
Image: Lauren Mitchell Iflickr)
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Public officers are better equipped with knowledge to handle procurement matters related to the Caribbean Development Bank Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan projects.
Head of Project Office for the United Nations Development Programme, Mr. Luis Thais said the recent training has helped public officers to expand their understanding on general procurement principles, procurement planning, their respective roles and responsibilities, red flags in procurement and ethics in procurement.
Mr. Thais said participants welcomed the initiative and requested that further workshops be organised to discuss procedures and requirements to help them improve their procurement knowledge and skills.
Mr. Thais also added that participants agreed that the timely and effective implementation of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loan requires strengthened coordination and a proactive collaboration by all parties involved in procurement.
Participants attending the workshop included procurement experts and officials from the Deputy Governor’s Office, Premier’s Office, Ministries of Finance, Natural Resources and Labour, Health and Social Development, Communications and Works, Education and Culture, the Treasury Department and the Public Works Department.
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Image: The Blue Diamond Gallery
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