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Government’s e-procurement portal, an IMF requirement, not yet able to list ICB and NCB projects
View(s):The Government’s e-procurement portal – launched to improve transparency and efficiency – is still attracting just “shopping tenders”, with costlier, large-scale international and national competitive bidding (ICB and NCB) projects due to start getting uploaded only after the system is further upgraded.
The Finance Ministry has instructed all ministries, provincial councils, departments, district secretariats, State corporations, statutory boards and State-owned enterprises to immediately implement the long overdue electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, in keeping with an IMF requirement to improve transparency.
But while the order states that procurement notices relating to all methods and categories with an estimated value of more than Rs 300mn must be published in the e-GP portal with effect from May 1, 2023, the tenders now uploaded are for basic supplies including stationery, some urgent medication and plants.
“We have asked that all major tenders be uploaded either directly or via us,” said E A Rathnaseela, Director-General of the Department of Public Finance. “We are now receiving them.” But he confirmed that the majority are “shopping procurements” or purchases that can be carried out without calling for documents.
“ICB and NCB are not yet facilities under e-procurement,” Mr Rathnaseela continued, explaining that, to broaden the scope to include large-scale projects, the existing platform needs certain changes. This is being done, with an agreement recently signed to implement ICB and NCB within one-and-a-half years.
Mr Rathnaseela also said that all public institutions have to fall in line with the instructions. “They have no option,” he said, pointing out that e-procurement is aimed at reducing corruption and delays.
There have been at least four circulars since 2018 mandating the adoption of the e-GP system, including one requiring the appointment of liaison officers to collate and upload information. A circular dated 2019 even set out procedures such as registration of procurement entities, liaison officers and vendors, publication of annual procurement plans and procurement notices, etc. However, it wasn’t implemented.
The IMF has, several times, stressed the importance of clear procurement procedures.
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