THIRD QUARTER PRESS BRIEFING STATEMENT BY THE ZAMBIA PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY DIRECTOR GENERAL MRS. IDAH C. CHELLA
10 31 2022
MONDAY, 31ST OCTOBER, 2022 AT 09.00 HOURS
- SENIOR MEMBERS OF MANAGEMENT
- MEMBERS OF THE PRESS
- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO ADDRESS YOU, MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND THROUGH YOU, THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON WHOSE BEHALF WE CARRY OUT THE ZPPA MANDATE, ARE ADEQUATELY INFORMED ABOUT OUR OPERATIONS. LET ME APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION WE HAVE HAD WITH YOU ESPECIALLY IN MAKING THE PUBLIC AWARE ABOUT THE ZPPA ACTIVITIES FOR EACH QUARTER. THIS PRESS BRIEFING IS BEING HELD IN ORDER TO SHARE THE SALIENT ACTIVITIES COVERED BY ZPPA IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022. IT WILL ALSO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO CLARIFY MATTERS CONCERNING ZPPA’S ROLE ON A NUMBER OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ISSUES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
TODAY’S BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS WILL FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING:
- UPDATE ON INVESTIGATIONS ON PUBLIC PROCUREMENT MATTERS AND APPEALS;
- UPDATE ON COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENTS, PROCUREMENT AUDITS AND CONTRACT MONITORING;
- UPDATE ON COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS;
- UPDATE ON CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES; AND
- UPDATE ON THE ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT SYSTEM.
UPDATE ON INVESTIGATIONS AND APPEALS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
IN DELIVERING ITS MANDATE, ZPPA UNDERTAKES INVESTIGATIONS ON VARIOUS PROCUREMENT MATTERS AND CONSIDERS APPEALS FROM AGGRIEVED BIDDERS ARISING FROM VARIOUS PROCUREMENTS. IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, NINE (9) INVESTIGATIONS WERE UNDERTAKEN. THE STATUS IS THAT FIVE (5) INVESTIGATIONS WERE CONCLUDED AND FOUR (4) ARE ON-GOING.
SIXTEEN (16) APPEALS WERE REVIEWED OF WHICH SEVEN (7) WERE DISMISSED, THREE (3) WERE UPHELD IN PART. THREE (3) WERE UPHELD IN FULL AND THREE (3) APPEALS RESULTED IN THE TENDER PROCESSES BEING CANCELLED.
TWO OF THE APPEALS THAT ZPPA EXAMINED INVOLVED:
- THE TENDER FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF ACCESSORIES FOR EQUIPPING TWELVE (12) BOREHOLES IN SELECTED SCHOOLS LOCATED IN LEAD HOTSPOT AREAS IN KABWE. THE TENDER WAS FLOATED UNDER MINISTRY OF MINES AND MINERALS DEVELOPMENT. ZPPA ESTABLISHED THAT THE PROCURING ENTITY CONTRAVENED REGULATION 60 (E) OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS, 2022 BY INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL CRITERIA THAT WAS NOT STATED IN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT. ZPPA ADVISED THE MINISTRY TO RE-EVALUATE THE TENDER FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF ACCESSORIES FOR EQUIPPING TWELVE (NO. 12) BOREHOLES IN SELECTED SCHOOLS LOCATED IN LEAD HOTSPOT AREAS IN KABWE; AND
- ANOTHER CASE RELATED TO THE TENDER FOR THE SUPPLY AND DELIVERY OF A TIPPER TRUCK AT KAZUNGULA DISTRICT COUNCIL. ZPPA ESTABLISHED THAT KAZUNGULA DISTRICT COUNCIL DISQUALIFIED A BIDDER ON A PROVISION WHICH DID NOT APPEAR IN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT. THEREFORE, THE PROCURING ENTITY CONTRAVENED SECTION 60(E) OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT. ZPPA ADVISED THE COUNCIL TO CANCEL THE TENDER AND RE-COMMENCE THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
FURTHER, SOME OF THE NOTABLE INVESTIGATIONS UNDERTAKEN IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022 BY ZPPA WERE AS FOLLOWS:
- AT KAPUTA TOWN COUNCIL – THE AUTHORITY INVESTIGATED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A STAFF HOUSE AT CHIMPATIKA HEALTH POST AND ONE DOUBLE VIP TOILET. ZPPA ESTABLISHED THAT THERE WERE VARIOUS IRREGULARITIES IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS CONDUCTED BY KAPUTA TOWN COUNCIL. THE AUTHORITY CAUTIONED THE COUNCIL FOR FAILURE TO FOLLOW LAID DOWN PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES WHICH IS A CONTRAVENTION OF THE PROVISIONS IN THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS.
- ZPPA PERMANENTLY BARRED THREE (3) SUPPLIERS FROM PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT NAMELY, GREENSIDE INVESTMENT LIMITED, FMC FARMS LIMITED AND SIMULIYA TRADING COMPANY. THE AUTHORITY AFTER THE HEARING ESTABLISHED THAT THE THREE (3) SUPPLIERS COLLUDED AND CONNIVED IN THE SUBMISSION OF QUOTATIONS IN A TENDER BY MINISTRY OF HEALTH. THE TENDER RELATED TO THE PROCUREMENT OF FACE MASKS AND RE-USABLE SURGICAL SCRUBS TO SUPPORT RESPONSE TOWARDS THE COVID -19 OUTBREAK AT MINISTRY OF HEALTH.
- ZPPA SUSPENDED SIX (6) BIDDERS/SUPPLIERS FROM PARTICIPATING IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE (1) YEAR FOR SUBMITTING FALSE INSURANCE BID BONDS IN THE TENDER FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF VARIOUS PROJECTS IN KAPUTA DISTRICT UNDER THE 2021 CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND (CDF). THE SIX SUPPLIERS/BIDDERS WERE WITTINGTONE CONTRACTORS AND SUPPLIERS, BENARM GENERAL DEALERS, KEJORA CONTRACTORS LIMITED, CHISONTO DISTRIBUTORS AND GENERAL DEALERS, VINAKA GENERAL DEALERS AND CONTRACTORS AND SICHISI GENERAL DEALERS LIMITED.
UPDATE ON COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENTS, PROCUREMENT AUDITS AND CONTRACT MONITORING
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
ZPPA UNDERTAKES COMPLIANCE AND CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS AND VISITS, TO ENSURE THAT PROCURING ENTITIES FOLLOW THE LAID DOWN PROCEDURES IN THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT AND THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS. ZPPA CONDUCTED CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS IN TWELVE (12) PROCURING ENTITIES AND SIX (6) FOLLOW UP VISITS WERE MADE IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022. OUT OF THE ASSESSMENTS AND VISITS UNDERTAKEN, TWELVE (12) PROCURING ENTITIES WERE FOUND TO BE FAIRLY COMPLIANT, THREE (3) PROCURING ENTITIES WERE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLIANT WHILE THREE (3) PROCURING ENTITIES WERE FOUND TO BE NON-COMPLIANT.
SOME OF THE FINDINGS OF THE CAPACITY ASSESSMENTS AND VISITS INCLUDED:
- AWARDS OF CONTRACTS BASED ON PRICE ONLY; LACK OF BENCHMARKING WITH THE MARKET PRICE INDEX OR NON-UNDERTAKING OF PRICE REASONABLENESS ANALYSIS;
- VALIDITY OF TENURE OF OFFICE FOR PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOT INDICATED IN THE REPORTS;
- NON- SUBMISSION OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION TO THE AUTHORITY - NON-SUBMISSION AND INCONSISTENT SUBMISSION OF REPORTS (MONTHLY REPORTS OF DIRECT BIDDING PROCUREMENTS, PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES AND QUARTERLY REPORTS) AND OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION INCLUDING CANCELLATION;
- FAILURE TO FOLLOW LAID DOWN PROCEDURE, SUCH AS OBTAINING QUOTATIONS OR GOODS BEFORE APPROVAL;
- ZPPA NOT BEING INFORMED OF CHANGES MADE TO THE PROCUREMENT COMMITTEES; AND
- NON-COMMITMENT OF FUNDS PRIOR TO CONTRACT AWARD.
FROM THE COMPLIANCE ASSESSMENTS UNDERTAKEN IN LUSAKA, LUAPULA, NORTHERN, WESTERN, SOUTHERN, AND CENTRAL PROVINCES, ZPPA HAS REQUESTED:
- THE NATIONAL VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTRE IN NDOLA COPPERBELT PROVINCE WHICH FALLS UNDER THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO SHOW CAUSE WHY THE PROCUREMENT FUNCTION SHOULD NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER BODY OR PROCUREMENT AGENCY DUE TO NON-COMPLIANCE; AND
- KASAMA GENERAL HOSPITAL, MANSA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, SERENJE TOWN COUNCIL, MONGU TOWN COUNCIL AND THE PROVINCIAL EDUCATION OFFICE IN WESTERN PROVINCE, TO SHOW CAUSE WHY THE AUTHORITY SHOULD NOT INVOKE THE PENALTIES PROVIDED IN THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT FOR THE CONTRAVENTION AND NON – COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT AND ITS REGULATIONS.
FROM THE ASSESSMENTS UNDERTAKEN IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, ZPPA ESTABLISHED THAT THE AFOREMENTIONED PROCURING ENTITIES WERE NON-COMPLIANT WITH THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS BY SCORING 37% – 50% ON THE COMPLIANCE INDICATORS.
ZPPA FURTHER UNDERTAKES PROCUREMENT AUDITS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY OF PROCUREMENT PROCESSES AND ASCERTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT AND THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS. IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, PROCUREMENT AUDITS WERE UNDERTAKEN IN TWO (2) PROCURING ENTITIES IN LUSAKA PROVINCE.
THE AUTHORITY OVERSEES CONTRACT MANAGEMENT IN PROCURING ENTITIES IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE CONTRACT EXECUTION IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS. FURTHER, CONTRACT MANAGEMENT ENSURES THAT GOODS, WORKS AND SERVICES ARE DELIVERED AT THE RIGHT COST, RIGHT TIME, AND RIGHT QUALITY. IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, THE AUTHORITY UNDERTOOK A DESK REVIEW OF CONTRACT MANAGEMENT DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY PROCURING ENTITIES. FORTY (40) PROJECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR THE EXERCISE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER CONTRACT EXECUTION IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS. WHEN THE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS IS COMPLETED, ZPPA WILL REQUEST THE PROCURING ENTITIES TO SUBMIT CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND THERE AFTER CONDUCT SITE INSPECTION OF THE PROJECT.
THE CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT AUDIT UNIT OF ZPPA IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING SITE VISITS OF FOURTEEN (14) PROJECTS IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE.
UPDATE ON COMPLIANCE MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT REQUIRES ALL PROCURING ENTITIES TO SUBMIT THEIR ANNUAL PROCUREMENT PLANS TO THE AUTHORITY. THE ANNUAL PROCUREMENT PLANS ENABLE THE AUTHORITY TO MONITOR PROCUREMENTS THAT ARE UNDERTAKEN BY PROCURING ENTITIES AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON PROCUREMENT PLANNING. IN ADDITION, ANNUAL PROCUREMENT PLANS ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY AND PREDICTABILITY IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT. ALL PROCURING ENTITIES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE ANNUAL PROCUREMENT PLANS TO ZPPA BY 31ST DECEMBER OR PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE RESPECTIVE PROCURING ENTITY’S FINANCIAL YEAR. THE IMPACT OF NON-PREPARATION OF ANNUAL PROCUREMENT PLANS IS THAT IT RESULTS IN UNPLANNED PROCUREMENTS. FURTHER, NON-SUBMISSION OF ANNUAL PROCUREMENT PLANS IS CONTRARY TO SECTION 57(2) OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT.
PROCURING ENTITIES WERE ADVISED TO ADHERE TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT AND REGULATIONS WHEN PREPARING AND SUBMITTING ANNUAL PROCUREMENT PLANS TO ZPPA.
THE AUTHORITY ALSO REVIEWS QUARTERLY PROCUREMENT REPORTS SUBMITTED TO ZPPA BY PROCURING ENTITIES. THE REPORTS ENABLE THE AUTHORITY TO REVIEW PROCUREMENT PROCESSES UNDERTAKEN BY PROCURING ENTITIES. THE AUTHORITY RECEIVED AND REVIEWED ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY THREE (143) QUARTERLY PROCUREMENT REPORTS DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022. ZPPA ADVISED PROCURING ENTITIES ON THE NEED TO SUBMIT QUARTERLY REPORTS BY THE 15TH DAY OF THE MONTH OF THE FOLLOWING QUARTER.
THE AUTHORITY ALSO REQUIRES PROCURING ENTITIES TO SUBMIT DIRECT BIDDING REPORTS. THE REPORTS ENABLE THE AUTHORITY TO REVIEW ADHERENCE TO SECTION 46 OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT AND ZPPA CIRCULAR NO.1 OF 2022 ON THE PROCEDURE FOR THE USE OF THE DIRECT BIDDING PROCUREMENT METHOD. IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, THE AUTHORITY REVIEWED ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-SEVEN (187) REPORTS ON THE PROCUREMENTS UNDERTAKEN USING THE DIRECT BIDDING METHOD. SOME OF THE NOTABLE OBSERVATIONS ON THE DIRECT BIDDING REPORTS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:
- LATE SUBMISSION OF THE REPORTS;
- JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE USE OF DIRECT BIDDING PROCUREMENT METHOD WERE NOT IN LINE WITH ZPPA CIRCULAR NO. 1 OF 2022;
- CONTROLLING OFFICERS DID NOT SIGN THE DIRECT BIDDING REPORTS; AND
PROCURING ENTITIES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT MONTHLY DIRECT BIDDING REPORTS TO THE AUTHORITY BY THE 15TH DAY OF THE MONTH FOLLOWING THE REPORTING MONTH.
FURTHER, IN LINE WITH SECTION 69 (2) OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT, PROCURING ENTITIES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT REPORTS ON TERMINATION OR CANCELLATION OF PROCUREMENT PROCEEDINGS WITHIN FOURTEEN DAYS OF THE TERMINATION OR CANCELLATION. IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, TWENTY-FIVE (25) REPORTS ON TERMINATION OF PROCUREMENT PROCEEDINGS WERE RECEIVED AND REVIEWED.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 79 OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT, WHICH PROVIDES THAT THE AUTHORITY MAY, IN A PRESCRIBED MANNER AND FORM PERMIT A PROCURING ENTITY TO DEVIATE FROM THE USE OF A PUBLIC PROCUREMENT METHOD, RULE, PROCESS OR DOCUMENT, ZPPA RECEIVED AND REVIEWED NINETY-THREE (93) APPLICATIONS FOR DEVIATIONS OUT OF WHICH SEVENTY-TWO (72) WERE APPROVED. PROCURING ENTITIES ARE REMINDED TO ALWAYS ATTACH THE PRESCRIBED FORM FOR EVERY APPLICATION FOR DEVIATION TO AVOID DELAYS.
FURTHERMORE, ZPPA REVIEWS PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS BY PROCURING ENTITIES. IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, NINETY-NINE (99) SETS OF PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES WERE REVIEWED. FROM THE REVIEW OF PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES AND OTHER COMPLIANCE MONITORING ACTIVITIES, ZPPA OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING:
- CONTRACT AWARD DECISIONS BY PROCURING ENTITIES WERE BASED ON CRITERIA THAT WAS NOT PROVIDED IN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT/ENQUIRY;
- OMISSION OF SALIENT INFORMATION SUCH AS FLOATATION PERIODS;
- LACK OF COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ELIGIBILITY OF BIDDERS;
- DELAY IN SUBMITTING THE MINUTES HENCE BULKY SUBMISSION BY CERTAIN PROCURING ENTITIES;
- FAILURE TO FOLLOW LAID DOWN PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES AS STIPULATED IN THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT AND PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS;
- OMISSION OF LIST OF PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS INVITED TO SUBMIT BIDS;
- NON-ADHERENCE TO PROVIDED TENURE OF PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS;
- NO INDICATION OF EFFECTIVE DATES OF APPOINTMENTS OF PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS;
- OMISSION OF SALIENT INFORMATION SUCH AS THE DESIGNATION OF EXTERNAL MEMBERS OF PROCUREMENT COMMITTEES;
- NON-ADHERENCE TO SUBMISSION OF CVS FOR PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS; AND
- PROOF OF CLEARANCE BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT FOR EXTERNAL MEMBERS.
THE PROCURING ENTITIES WHOSE PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES AND OTHER REPORTS WERE REVIEWED, WERE ADVISED TO PROVIDE EXPLANATIONS FOR THE NON – COMPLIANCE, FAILURE TO WHICH SANCTIONS WILL BE APPLIED PURSUANT TO THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT.
LASTLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 111 (1) OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT, THE AUTHORITY IS MANDATED TO ISSUE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT CIRCULARS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO PROVIDE FURTHER GUIDANCE ON THE INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT. IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, THE AUTHORITY ISSUED FOUR (4) CIRCULARS TO PROVIDE FURTHER GUIDANCE ON THE INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT.
UPDATE ON RESEARCH AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
ZPPA CONDUCTS CAPACITY BUILDING FOR PROCURING ENTITIES AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THEIR CAPACITY TO CARRY OUT PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROCEDURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT AND THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS. IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, ZPPA FACILITATED TRAINING OF THREE (3) PROCURING ENTITIES IN LUSAKA PROVINCE. FURTHER, THE AUTHORITY FACILITATED TAILOR MADE TRAINING FOR SIX (6) PROCURING ENTITIES IN LUSAKA AND NORTH WESTERN PROVINCES AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONNEL TRAINED WAS ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE (105).
UPDATE ON THE ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT SYSTEM, TENDERS PUBLISHED ON THE SYSTEM AND USAGE OF THE SYSTEM
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
ZPPA HAS BEEN CARRYING OUT ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE THE USE OF THE E- GP SYSTEM BY PROCURING ENTITIES AND SUPPLIERS. THE USE OF THE E-GP SYSTEM RESULTS IN ENHANCED EFFICIENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTEGRITY IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT.
IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, A TOTAL OF ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-ONE (1,531) TENDERS FROM ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY (190) PROCURING ENTITIES WERE PUBLISHED ON THE E-GP SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWING IS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-ONE (1,531) TENDERS THAT WERE UPLOADED ON THE SYSTEM:
- EIGHTY-NINE (89) - OPEN BIDDING
- SEVEN (7) - OPEN SELECTION
- NINE (9) - LIMITED SELECTION
- NINE (9) - LIMITED BIDDING
- ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED NINETY-SIX (1,196)- SIMPLIFIED BIDDING
- ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) - DIRECT BIDDING
TRAINING OF PROCURING ENTITIES AND SUPPLIERS IN THE USAGE OF THE E-GP SYSTEM.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, THE AUTHORITY TRAINED FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY-EIGHT (458) SUPPLIERS FROM NORTH WESTERN, LUSAKA, CENTRAL, SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PROVINCES. TWENTY-FIVE (25) PROCURING ENTITIES WERE TRAINED IN E-GP SYSTEM USAGE AND ADDED TO THE SYSTEM.
THE AUTHORITY CONTINUED TO REGISTER SUPPLIERS OF GOODS, WORKS AND SERVICES ON THE E-GP SYSTEM. AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2022, ZPPA REGISTERED THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SIX (3,276) SUPPLIERS ON THE E-GP SYSTEM.
AS I CONCLUDE, LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO STATE THAT, AS A PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATOR, WE WILL STRIVE TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROCESSES, TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN LINE WITH THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ACT, PUBLIC PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS AND THE AUTHORITY’S MISSION STATEMENT WHICH IS ‘TO REGULATE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE AND VALUE FOR MONEY’.
I THANK YOU.