{"id":27629,"date":"2023-04-27T23:52:12","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T04:52:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev?p=27629"},"modified":"2023-04-27T20:01:25","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T01:01:25","slug":"new-procurement-act-to-end-large-firm-dominance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/new-procurement-act-to-end-large-firm-dominance\/","title":{"rendered":"New Procurement Act to end large firm \u2018dominance\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bahamas<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister yesterday\u00a0said the Government\u2019s digital procurement platform has\u00a0generated\u00a0$2.6m savings in just four months since its launch as he slammed his predecessors for giving large firms \u201cdominance\u201d in contract awards.<\/p>\n

Philip Davis KC, leading-off House of Assembly debate on reforms to the Public Procurement Act, said close to 1,500 companies have\u00a0registered with the electronic portal with almost 300 public sector\u00a0contracts put out to bid through it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will also have fully digital public procurement with the roll out of the Go Bonfire Platform: A\u00a0best-in-class procurement platform that is being implemented throughout the public sector and in the Public Hospitals Authority,\u201d he told MPs.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince the launch of the platform last November, 1,490 vendors have been registered. Two hundred and ninety-nine\u00a0opportunities have been contracted during this period and the estimated savings from the use of the\u00a0platform is $2.6m. This number is expected to grow as more agencies move their procurement processes online.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arguing that the current Act, passed under the former Minnis administration and brought into effect just weeks before the general election on September 1, 2021, had produced \u201cunintended public policy consequences that we are keen to avoid\u201d, the Prime Minister said one impact had been to favour large companies in the award of government contracts.<\/p>\n

While not naming the company or group involved, he identified food supplies as one area where this had occurred. \u201cOne of the worst examples of this is seen in the unequal granting of contracts. The processes put in place created an environment in which large vendors are able to dominate the competition,\u201d Mr Davis asserted.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, in the procurement of food, one vendor by virtue of its size and corporate relations,\u00a0dominated the procurement of food on behalf of the Government. Under the current Act, this dominance is allowed. In fact, it is an outcome that the Act, as written, intentionally brings about.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, common sense would tell you that the Government nor the Bahamian people want to exist in a reality where only the largest, richest companies with the most resources get every contract. We can all agree that the role of government should be to broaden opportunities for a diverse range of Bahamians. Our small and medium-sized businesses deserve\u00a0opportunities too. The Bill before us today allows for that possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Public procurement, if used correctly, and in a fair, transparent and accountable manner with open, competitive bidding for government contracts can be an important tool of national development by facilitating the growth of\u00a0small and medium-sized businesses. It can also ensure taxpayers receive value for money, and eliminate waste, inefficiencies and other unnecessary expenses and loss in the tender process.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new Bill does the opposite of what the current Act does by allowing for the preferential treatment of specific groups,\u201d the Prime Minister added.\u00a0\u201cWe will introduce preferences for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, women-owned business, Family Island businesses and youth-owned businesses. These are high priority areas we are targeting as a government to diversify opportunities in The Bahamas.<\/p>\n

I think this point bears repeating. Under the current Act, the most well-established, well-resourced businesses were able to dominate government contracts under the guise of them being the best fit for the job. This sounds good on paper but ignores the reality on the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Government spent some $274m on goods and services during the six months to end-December 2022, according to mid-year Budget data, which represented a year-over-year rise of $24.1m. This gives an insight into the size of the role that the public sector plays in the Bahamian economy, as well as the scale of the opportunity available to local companies and entrepreneurs to gain a share of this business.<\/p>\n

\u201cContracts below a certain threshold will now automatically be reserved for national bidders,\u201d Mr Davis promised.\u00a0\u201cSpecial permission will have to be granted for these procurement processes to allow for international bidding. Specific justifications must be given for approval of this request.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, it could be for a good or service that is not available in The Bahamas. In all other cases, any contract amount below that.\u00a0In all other cases, any contract amount below that\u00a0threshold will be reserved and granted to local companies. We are preserving opportunities for Bahamian business owners.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister did not specify that threshold in his address. However, the Bill, which passed its second reading in the House of Assembly last night, reduces the threshold above which a government ministry, agency or department\u2019s tenders committee must review a contract award from $50,000 to $25,000.<\/p>\n

This, the Bill states, is designed \u201cprovide an effective control mechanism\u201d on the award. Contracts valued between $25,000 and $40,000 can be awarded on the recommendation of a public entity\u2019s tenders committee, subject to approval from the relevant minister, while those valued between $400,000 and $2.5m will see the recommended winner forwarded to the central Tenders Board. Contracts over the latter sum will have to be approved by Cabinet.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder the new Bill, bidders who attempt to influence or induce the award of a contract by offer of employment, gratuity or any other offer of value will be disqualified. This is yet another area that will be strengthened,\u201d Mr Davis promised.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

more<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

image: hands-desk-office-working<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bahamas The Prime Minister yesterday\u00a0said the Government\u2019s digital procurement platform has\u00a0generated\u00a0$2.6m savings in just four months since its launch as he slammed his predecessors for giving large firms \u201cdominance\u201d in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1091,"featured_media":4409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[250],"tags":[166,153,73,71,125],"class_list":["post-27629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-articles","tag-bahamas","tag-legal","tag-legislation","tag-procurement","tag-public-procurement"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/hands-desk-office-working-mouse-Skitterphoto-Pexels.jpg?fit=1024%2C678&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6u9Qa-7bD","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27310,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/expanding-opportunity-pm-outlines-changes-to-public-procurement\/","url_meta":{"origin":27629,"position":0},"title":"EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY\u2019: PM outlines changes to public procurement","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"April 13, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas NASSAU, BAHAMAS \u2014 Nearly 1,500 vendors have registered on the government\u2019s new procurement platform since its launch last November according to Prime Minister Philip Davis, with the government realizing nearly $3 million in savings from its use. During his contribution to the Public Finance Management and Public Procurement Bills\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-cytonn-photography-955393-scaled-e1681427729598.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-cytonn-photography-955393-scaled-e1681427729598.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-cytonn-photography-955393-scaled-e1681427729598.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/pexels-cytonn-photography-955393-scaled-e1681427729598.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27626,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/go-bonfire-digital-procurement-platform-has-saved-government-2-6m-since-launch\/","url_meta":{"origin":27629,"position":1},"title":"Go Bonfire digital procurement platform has saved government $2.6m since launch","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"April 27, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahama ECONOMIC Affairs Minister Michael Halkitis said government had saved about $2.6m since launching a new digital procurement platform in November. He said 1,490 vendors have registered on the new Go Bonfire platform, and 299 opportunities have been posted there. \u201cThese numbers are expected to grow as more agencies move\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Computer-code-coding-programming-pexels-pixabay-270360-e1731337253847.jpg?fit=1025%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Computer-code-coding-programming-pexels-pixabay-270360-e1731337253847.jpg?fit=1025%2C682&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Computer-code-coding-programming-pexels-pixabay-270360-e1731337253847.jpg?fit=1025%2C682&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Computer-code-coding-programming-pexels-pixabay-270360-e1731337253847.jpg?fit=1025%2C682&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24794,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/government-launches-improved-e-procurement-portal\/","url_meta":{"origin":27629,"position":2},"title":"Government launches improved e-procurement portal","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"October 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas The Ministry of Finance has launched an improved e-procurement portal in order to fulfil its commitment of \u201ctransparency and ease of access to procurement opportunities required under the Public Procurement Act, 2021\u201d, even as the government seeks to rewrite that legislation, having shirked the act since coming to office.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Bahamas\"","block_context":{"text":"Bahamas","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/tag\/bahamas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-soumil-kumar-735911-scaled-e1666942765270.jpg?fit=1025%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-soumil-kumar-735911-scaled-e1666942765270.jpg?fit=1025%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-soumil-kumar-735911-scaled-e1666942765270.jpg?fit=1025%2C684&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-soumil-kumar-735911-scaled-e1666942765270.jpg?fit=1025%2C684&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27840,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/government-loading-previously-signed-contracts-into-new-e-procurement-system\/","url_meta":{"origin":27629,"position":3},"title":"Government loading previously signed contracts into new e-procurement system","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"May 11, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas The government is loading previously signed contracts into its new Bonfire e-procurement system, so that contracts already awarded since\u00a0the Davis administration\u00a0took office almost two years ago, will be available to the public, Financial Secretary Simon Wilson told members of the media yesterday. Wilson reiterated that the old system the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/hands-desk-office-working-mouse-Skitterphoto-Pexels.jpg?fit=1024%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/hands-desk-office-working-mouse-Skitterphoto-Pexels.jpg?fit=1024%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/hands-desk-office-working-mouse-Skitterphoto-Pexels.jpg?fit=1024%2C678&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/hands-desk-office-working-mouse-Skitterphoto-Pexels.jpg?fit=1024%2C678&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25039,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/best-in-class-government-launches-new-eprocurement-system\/","url_meta":{"origin":27629,"position":4},"title":"BEST IN CLASS: Government launches new eProcurement system","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"November 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas \u00a0The government\u2019s nearly $800 million allocation in the 2022\/2023 fiscal period for recurrent and capital expenditure represents \u201cvast\u201d procurement opportunities, according to Prime Minister Philip Davis, noting that a new Public Procurement Bill will soon be made public for consultation. Speaking at the launch of the government\u2019s new eProcurement\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/pexels-thisisengineering-3861972-scaled-e1668181587801.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/pexels-thisisengineering-3861972-scaled-e1668181587801.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/pexels-thisisengineering-3861972-scaled-e1668181587801.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/pexels-thisisengineering-3861972-scaled-e1668181587801.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27838,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wilson-contract-awards-to-be-published-when-reporting-capacity-improves\/","url_meta":{"origin":27629,"position":5},"title":"Wilson: Contract awards to be published when reporting capacity improves","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"May 11, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas FINANCIAL secretary Simon Wilson said the government would finally begin publishing contract awards when the reporting capacity of its contract procurement system is improved. The Public Procurement Act mandates the government disclose the name and address of winning contract bidders and the award amount within 60 days of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-mentatdgt-1311518-scaled-e1666942697828.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-mentatdgt-1311518-scaled-e1666942697828.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-mentatdgt-1311518-scaled-e1666942697828.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/pexels-mentatdgt-1311518-scaled-e1666942697828.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1091"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27629"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27629\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27640,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27629\/revisions\/27640"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}