Why the delay in the awarding of contract?

Dear Editor,

I am totally disappointed with the manner in which bids are evaluated at the level of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

On December 29, 2016 bids were opened for the operation service and maintenance of excavators, and others, for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, hereafter called the Procuring Entity. It has been 42 days since the opening and still no one has been awarded any of the contracts.

Editor, the Procurement Act of 2003, clearly states in Chapter 39 clause 2, that the “Evaluation Committee shall … convey its recommendation to the Procuring Entity within a reasonable period of time, but no longer than 14 days.”

The inability of the Evaluation Committee/Evaluator and NPTAB to ensure that the Procurement Act is followed, reflects one of the limitations of the bidding process in Guyana. Why is there a delay in the awarding of this contract? What is being done at the level of the NPTAB to remedy such deficiencies in the procurement process?

Editor, I made several calls to the NDIA and NPTAB to seek clarity on this matter and to date, neither of the two entities can give a reason for the present situation.

This is not the first time this has happened to me as a contractor at the level of NPTAB. But I sincerely hope that after this is highlighted that special interest would be given to this situation to ensure due process is followed and there is a transparent evaluation process.

I can think of several possible reasons why these contracts have not yet been awarded, but I wish to refrain from speculation and state the obvious: there are still significant limitations in the procurement process. And I would also like to make a clarion call to NPTAB and the relevant authorities to rectify this defect in the system and promptly award the bids for these projects.

Yours faithfully, (Name and address provided)