Landmark Public Procurement Bill soon up for debate
NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Government tabled landmark legislation last week that will substantially change how contracts are awarded throughout the entire public service.
The Public Procurement Bill, 2020, will be debated in the House of Assembly following the adoption of the FY2020/21 Annual Budget.
The new rules will govern how government contracts for goods and services are issued by all public entities. The Bill creates a Public Procurement Department that will fall under the Ministry of Finance and establishes a new structure for the Tenders Board. Following the Budget Debate, the Ministry of Finance will engage in public education around the new Bill.
Some of the fundamental changes include criminal penalties for unethical conduct by public officials involved in the tender exercise, a requirement for all bids and tenders to be published through the Government’s electronic tender platform, and the implementation of an appeal process for bidders.
“We are proud to advance our government reform agenda with another landmark piece of legislation that will once again, fundamentally improve the standard of government transparency and accountability,” said K. Peter Turnquest, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
“Historically, there has been little public confidence in the procurement process for government goods and services.”
This new legislation is a massive step forward to bringing more credibility to the procurement process.
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