By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Independent Procurement Review Panel (IPRP) is investigating alleged procurement irregularities by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Coorporation.
IPRP in a statement dated 11th April 2023 stated that it has on the 5th April this year commenced an investigation into a matter filed by Fayia Unity Garage situated at 32 Steward Street against the Ministry on allegations of procurement irregularities bordering on the award of Framework contract for the supply of spare parts and maintenance of vehicles.
Speaking to Politico, the Public Relations Officer of IPRP Emmanuel Okine, explained that a Framework contract advertisement was published for bidding via Global Times as well as The Voice Newspaper to repair the ministry’s vehicles and to supply them with spare parts. He said the aggrieved bidder was not satisfied with the way the process was conducted; therefore he opted to report the matter to the IPRP.
He stated that, they have just commenced preliminary investigations on the matter and that they have called the complainant to explain his own version of what transpired. He further said that the complainant cited things that were not initially captured inside the bidding document like the garage not having enough space.
Okine pointed out that, he does not want to prejudice the matter, due to the fact that, they have a ten day mandate to look at the investigation. He also said that after the investigators would have completed preliminary investigations, they will forward it to the panel where the Appellant and the Respondent will be called again for questioning based on what the investigators would have gathered.
The procurement process of Sierra Leone is said to be governed by the Public Procurement Act No. 10 2016 and the Regulations Statutory Instrument No. 15 of 2020.
The Independent Procurement Review Panel is charged with the responsibility to review complaints and appeals from dissatisfied bidders, and private contractors about decisions of a procuring entity in the procurement process.
The head of Communication at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not comment on the issue at the time he was contacted.
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