No short-cuts on tender registration - PPADB

MBONGENI MGUNI
Staff Writer | Thursday October 4, 2012 00:00

 

After a 12-month window period, the PPADB on August 15 invoked a section of its Act requiring that all businesses wishing to bid for central government tenders or otherwise supply government apply for and possess a PPADB registration certificate.

The registration is part of a range of tough supervisory measures on contractors. It is meant to ensure that companies wishing to do business with the government meet the necessary requirements to deliver in the most cost-effective way.

While the certificate was previously required for works and infrastructure related tenders, this is no longer the case after August 15. Now all suppliers, service providers and consultants for central government tenders must have the certificate.

Last Friday, the board warned that it would not budge even as it was being inundated with requests for waivers and special treatment by contractors who submitted under the late registration dispensation. 'Some contractors who submitted applications for late registration are constantly approaching the board requesting for waivers and special treatment for their applications to be fast tracked ahead of others to allow them to meet tender closing dates,' PPADB public relations and education manager, Ditapole Chibua-Tsheboeng said.

'The board upholds the principle of fairness and equity and will not favour some contractors over others by fast tracking their registration.' She said that instead, the PPADB has come up with measures to address the high volume of applications and respond within six weeks. A helpdesk for enquiries on the status of registration has been set up.

Recently, the PPADB's executive director of works, Mosimolodi Lefhoko told Mmegi Business that no extensions to the August 15 effective date would be made, explaining that registration is an ongoing process. 'The only difference is that those who do not have PPADB registration certificates (after August 15) will be disqualified from tendering,' he said.

Available PPADB documents indicate that registration includes submission of financial, taxation documents, qualifications or licences of key personnel as well as business or trade licences for specific categories of businesses. In some instances, the registration stipulates the minimum qualifications and experience of key staff.

In addition, some categories of businesses such as consultants are required to prove that they have an office with furniture, telephone line, fax machine, computer and printer, while others are required to prove possession of relevant laboratory or survey equipment.

Registration and submission fees accompany each application and only micro-procurement bids of not more than P30,000 are exempt from the requirement to register.