REGION THREE TENDER BOARD OPERATES ABOVE BOARD.

Jul 17, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,
With reference to an article on page 8 in Sunday’s Kaieteur Newspaper dated July 15, 2018 bearing the caption, “Region 3 REO decides which bids reach Tender Board,” the Regional Administration wishes to pen this formal response.
To begin with, the Regional Administration wishes to thank Kaieteur News for publishing the concerns of a person or maybe two with regards to the manner in which contracts are awarded in Essequibo Islands West Demerara. We admire the work of the press and believe strongly that their work plays a vital role in promoting accountability and transparency.
However we at the administration’s level found the article mentioned above to be very unfortunate, misleading and erroneous in its entirety. The unfounded story shows the lack of investigative journalism on the part of Kaieteur News and with full professionalism we appeal to the Editor in Chief to conduct training programmes for the reporters so that the actual truth can be printed so as to benefit all and not just the mischievous few.
Notwithstanding the above, kindly find below how the awarding process is done.
As instructed by NDCs, all bid documents for works to be executed by NDCs are submitted to the Local Government Department of the Regional Administration. The documents must be sealed and addressed to the Chairman of the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board.
The name of the projects must also be on the envelope. No other writing should be on the envelope. Any envelope that has the Contractor’s name or any other information outside of the proper address and name of projects is disqualified which is in keeping with instructions to contractors, norms and practices and procurement procedures and rules.
The envelopes are then taken to the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board where they are opened in the presence of all members of the board.
The bids, once properly addressed and carrying the name of the projects are then sent to the evaluation committee which comprises members who are not members of the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board.
The evaluation committee after evaluating the bids makes its recommendations to the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board and in some cases, the NDCs themselves make recommendations.
When the bid documents are sent back to the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board, the board members deliberate and then make their awards.
All members of the board sign the awarded documents and minutes of the meeting. All decisions of the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board are unanimous.
The procedure has never been and will never be a one man show.
Notwithstanding the above, every opportunity the Chairman of the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board gets to address contractors, he tells them to always put their complaints in writing should there be any. He has done it on more than 10 occasions.
Additionally, the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board is aware of misleading information being peddled in the public domain by a particular member who shares a cordial and private relationship with two particular contractors named in the article.
The board is further aware of the particular member demanding monies from contractors for the provision of information. The board is taking the necessary steps to correct this illegal practice.
In conclusion, the Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board will continue to execute its functions without prejudice, affection or favour.
Yours faithfully,
Ganesh Mahipaul
Regional Information Officer.

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