By Foday Moriba Conteh
During a ceremony held on Wednesday 20th July, 2022 at the Produce Monitoring Board Conference Room in Freetown, the Produce Monitoring Board (PMB), with aid from the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), opened bidding documents for the procurement of one new Land Cruiser vehicle for the use of the Executive Chairman of that institution or entity, Dr. James Vibbi.
According to one of the Directors of PMB, Didan Sankoh, the entity, through the Procurement Officer, Franklyn Chukuma Davies, went through the procurement procedures and worked with the National Public Procurement Authority and the Ministry of Transport and Aviation to ensure that due process was followed. Sankoh encouraged all present during the public opening of the bids to be cooperative and assured of the transparency of the process.
In his statement, the Procurement Officer of PMB, Franklyn Chukuma Davies said as part of the procurement procedures, the Produce Monitoring Board issued adverts on the Newspapers inviting bidders for the procurement of one new vehicle.
Reading excerpts published by the New Vision and A-Z Newspapers he said, “The Produce Monitoring Board (PMB) has been allocated funds by the Government of Sierra Leone and is in the process of procuring one (1) new vehicle for a Government official. The PMB now invites sealed bids for the supply using the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures in line with the Public Procurement Act 2016.”
According to Chukuma Davies, after the publications, two bidders bid for the supply but received only one bidding document from Sulaiman Motors and General Services.
He said the process is now in the hands of an evaluation committee which is expected to review the bid and report in three working days.
Chukuma Davies assured all that the process will be administered transparently and that vehicle purchased will be brand new, adding that the process would be transparent and open.
He revealed that the Vehicle is estimated to cost around Eight Hundred Million Leones, and is meant for the Executive Chairman of the Produce Monitoring Board, Dr. James Vibbi, whom he said since he took up office in 2019 has been using his personal vehicle.
He concluded by calling on the representative of NPPA to aid with the opening of the bidding document of Sulaiman Motors and General Services to the Press and all those present.
The Procurement Officer of the National Public Procurement Authority, Mustapha Shaw, said the Public Procurement Act, 2016 makes provision for the continuance in existence of the National Public Procurement Authority to further regulate and harmonize public Procurement processes in the public service.
He said they will aid the process of the opening of the bidding document but will not open the document as it does not fall under their mandate.
Shaw maintained that the bidding document has all the requirements and was verified by all present revealing that the document fulfilled the following requirement which includes: A signed and stamped Bid Form,
a bid security of not less than twenty thousand Leones (Le. 20.000) New Leone from a reputable commercial bank, a valid tax certificate from the National Revenue Authority, a Business Registration Certificate, a NASSIT Clearance Certificate, a Municipal/ Local Council Business Certificate and a signed Integrity Pact.
The Procurement Officer of NPPA ended up saying he is satisfied with the process underscoring how the next process will be evaluation which will be done by the Evaluation Committee.
Chief Executive Officer of Sulaiman Motors and General Services, Sulaiman Sowe, one of the bidders, told Pressmen that he saw the procurement advert in one of the local newspapers and they decided to bid for the procurement of the said vehicle.
He added that so far they are very impressed with the bidding process highlighting how they are expecting transparency in the entire process and that they have done their part by submitting all relevant documentation as per the requirements.
