PPCC Identifies Instances of Non Compliance In Procurement Plan

The Compliance and Monitoring Division-a major component of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) has released its monitoring report, covering the first quarter of the fiscal period (July 1 ñ September 30, 2007). The report cites instances of non compliance in the execution of procurement plans in accordance with the PPC Act of 2005 as well as the international best practices in the procurement process for goods, works and services.

The report shows how procurement practitioners from fourteen (14) procuring entities, irrespective of the huge training opportunity offered by the PPCC, failed to adhere to the contents of their procurement plan. In most instances, procurements at these various entities were carried out on a monthly basis instead of yearly as stipulated in the procurement plans.

This action, accordingly, contravenes Section 40 (3) of the Act of 2005 which prohibits procuring entity from conducting a procurement order into parts to avoid competition and the application of the procedures for public procurement as prescribed in the Act. The report also shows that many procuring entities used shopping methods instead of competitive methods.

The report named several ministries of government including Ministries of Education, Health and Social Welfare, Justice, Lands, Mines and Energy, Finance, Posts and Telecommunication, Labour, Agriculture, and Transport as those that are not working in line with their procurement plan.

It also named the Liberia Domestic Airport Agency, Civil Service Agency, National Investment Commission, Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), and National Fire Service as agencies of government that failed to adhere to the procurement plan during the period (July-September 30, 2008).