NPTAB calls for efficiency in procurement planning – hosting workshops to train evaluators

DPI, GUYANA, Tuesday, May 15, 2018

As part of continued efforts to improve the efficiency of services provided by agencies and Ministries, the National Procurement and Tender Board (NPTAB) has begun a series of workshops to train evaluators in procurement concepts and methodologies.

Chairman, NPTAB, Berkley Wickham

This training will facilitate more effective planning by and improve the pace of programme/project implementation. The NPTAB has already developed pilot procurement plans for the Health, Education, and Sea Defence sectors, and established compliance monitoring for procurement.

In a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Chairman of NPTAB, Berkley Wickham explained that ministries and contracting agencies are informed of the turnaround time for the procurement activities by NPTAB but continue to plan poorly.

“Public procurement is a process that is time bound. Issues arise because agencies and Ministries do not have effective procurement plans in place. What generally happens is that the tenders arrive late to NPTAB, with the expectation that they will be reviewed immediately. However, we have a process to follow”, Wickham explained.

The procurement process involves preparation of the tender documents, advertisement for the statutory period, project evaluation and submission to the NPTAB for processing. The tender document is then examined in accordance with the law, summarised and sent to Cabinet for approval. It is finally returned to the Board to be awarded.

Wickham cautioned that if projects are to be completed in a timely manner, the procurement process must start earlier.

By Ranetta La Fleur

Images courtesy of Gajuan Jordan

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