Procurement regulator enforces new guidelines for contractors

NAIROBI, KENYA: Contractors will not be required to physically attend bid opening meetings but instead transact their business online.

This is according to the latest guidelines issued by public procurement regulatory authority (PPRA) in a bid to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.

The authority has also directed contractors to submit in writing their full compliance with the measures put in place.
“contractors should undertake in writing to commit to full compliance with the measures put in place by the government to prevent the spread of COVID 19”, said the authority’s director-general Maurice Juma.

The authority which its core mandate is to monitor, assess, and review the public procurement and asset disposal system had earlier on suspended all face to face meetings in their offices a week after the country announced its first coronavirus case.

The new set of guidelines will see contractors save on time.

In the recent past PPRA has been struggling to get contractors to transact business electronically even before the onset of the pandemic in a move to curb bribery claims that have marred the public procurement sector.

“Bidders should be instructed to raise any queries resulting from bidding documents or seek clarification by mail and responses done by electronic mail,” said Juma.

Post qualification engagements have also been affected, with the parties required to meet to conduct due diligence reduced to video conferencing in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

Complaints to the regulator in the form of letters and reports will have to be scanned and sent via mail.