PPCC collaborates with World Bank to conduct Private Sector Workshop
On Monday, June 4, 2012, the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC), in collaboration with the World Bank, commenced a three-day procurement training workshop at the Monrovia City Hall, geared towards enhancing the capacity of members of the private sector in the preparation of responsive bids when participating in a public procurement bidding process.
Over one hundred participants drawn from different private sector organizations attended the workshop which focus on the “dos and don’ts” of the bidding process for the procurement of Goods, Works and Services in compliance with the Public Procurement and Concessions Act. A presentation on the Complaints, Appeals and Review process was made to educate bidders about their rights to seek redress when they are aggrieved.
A presentation on the World Bank Procurement Guidelines was also made to facilitate and enable more active private sector participation in public procurement financed by the government or projects financed by the World Bank. The workshop ran from June 4 to 6, 2012, and it was conducted on the theme: Understanding the Bidding Proceedings in Practical Terms”
As a kick-up to the workshop, Mrs. Esther W. Paegar, Vice Chairperson of the Commission, expressed her thanks and appreciations to the participants for the impressive record attendance, which she said shows the eagerness of the private sector to gain knowledge in public procurement. She however cautioned the participants against vices that would jeopardize their business interests and ambitions.
Delivering her remarks at the start of the workshop, World Bank Liberia Country Manager, Ms. Inguana Dobraja, called on the participants to take advantage of the training opportunity and make use of the skills learned from the workshop to prepare responsive bids that would put them in the driver’s seat when competing for contracts in public procurement.
Ms. Dobraja challenged members of the private sector to move beyond mediocrity by expanding their scopes of operation to enable them compete in public procurement both locally and internationally. By doing so she pointed out, Liberian businesses will develop, grow and become important player in generating employment and contributing to Liberia’s long term vision.
For his part, the Civil Service Boss, Dr. C. William Allen, thanked the business community for creating more jobs in the private sector for Liberians. He encouraged the participants to take advantage of the knowledge acquired and make maximum use of it to prosper in their businesses. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Joseph S. Neufville, PPCC Advisor, and three procurement specialists funded by the World Bank.
