Procurement officers undergo tender evaluation training

Given the importance of continuous evaluator training, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) was solicited to facilitate a two-day training session that will equip local procurement officers with the necessary best practice skills and knowledge of tender evaluation.
This workshop, which commenced on Wednesday, will complement ongoing training sessions done annually by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
According to Chairman of NPTAB, Berkley Wickham, evaluators find themselves in the spotlight of scrutiny over their recommendations now more than ever, especially with the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC)

which allows contractors to protest bids coupled by public audit.
To this end, Wickham told the evaluators that such training will prepare them for what is to come as Guyana moves towards attaining 21st Century Public Financial Management, of which Public Procurement is a principal business area.
“… The Procurement Act and its regulations in Guyana will soon be changed. In fact, the recommendations for change is already with us; and among other areas, there will be new methods of procurement. An evaluation criteria will become more specific and perhaps little more complicated… [This] is not intended to scare you but in the real world of Guyana, you will find that while in the past the evaluation process may not have been challenged, you should never confuse poor but untested past practice with proper practice,” the NPTAB Chairman posited.
Meanwhile, IDB Procurement Specialist, Ivan Gaviria, emphasised the need for increased training for local evaluators ahead of the impending changes to economic conditions.
“With everything that is upcoming in the country – big changes, looking towards the future and also just ensuring that public procurement and the processes therein, evaluations etc, are maintained with the principles of fairness, impartiality and transparency, I think the workshop is going to be very beneficial,” Gaviria asserted.
The two-day workshop, which is being held at the Marriott Hotel, is being facilitated by International Procurement Consultant, Dr Julian Laski, who will be looking into

various best practices in tender evaluation to improve the participants’ capabilities.
He emphasised that the training session will serve as a learning environment where the participants will get to see mistakes so as to not repeat them in executing their duties.
While there has been much controversies over years surrounding the local procurement process, these were heightened in recent time following the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission.
According to the Procurement Act, among the key functions of the Commission are to monitor and review the functioning of all procurement systems to ensure that they are in accordance with the law, and monitor the performance of procurement bodies with respect to adherence to regulations and efficiency in procuring goods and services and execution of works.
Back in August, based on a report filed by Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, the PPC found that Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson breached procurement laws with the award of a consultancy contract to Dutch firm LievenseCSO for the feasibility study and design of the new Demerara River crossing.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) recently submitted the findings of the PPC to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for criminal investigations to be carried out. It was reported that Minister Patterson was questioned on the matter during a visit to SOCU’s Headquarters on Monday.