By Nasratu Kargbo
The Chief Executive Director for the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) Ibrahim Brima Swarray has stated that suppliers for the security sectors are now required to be capacitated enough to supply at least six months at a go. Swarray during a press conference on the 20th of December 2021 said that suppliers that are unable to meet such a requirement, will not be awarded the contract.
“I have done a press release to all security sectors, on rice and flour, if the supplier does not have the capacity to supply for at least six months at a go, they should not win that contract” said Swarray, adding that the security sector is very vital and should not play with their feelings.
Swarray added that the salaries are not enough and that the rice supplied to security personnel will go a long way in easing the burden in their homes, “but if suppliers refuse to supply, they are endangering the citizens of this country”. “I will not sit here as a regulator, when I know that there are policies to ensure that all of us go to bed and sleep soundly,” he said.
He explained that before taking the contracts, the suppliers have been informed via the adverts that the contract will be done on a pre-supply basis, meaning government will pay later. However, he noted that on many occasions, the suppliers have refused to supply rice to institutions on the basis that they have not been paid.
He maintained that specific institutions like the prisons, police, defense etc. should be able to supply for six months at a go, noting that the supplies will remain in the custody of the specific institutions. The Executive Director said that the suppliers should deliver their end of the bargain and hold the Ministry of Finance responsible instead.
Speaking on some of the reasons for such a decision, he said that those that are in jail are held in one place and are unable to fend for themselves, and should be fed in order to prevent chaos from happening.
In addition, he said the decision is to avoid confusion in terms of pricing, explaining that on many occasions a price increase in the market would see contractors wanting the government to increase the price. He said for a contractor to supply a certain institution for six months at a go, there will be no way to increase the price, noting that once an agreement has been made with regards pricing, the price stays the same till the end of the contract.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (22/12/21)
