Govt Procurement System Allegedly Fails at PIMS

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has allegedly observed multiple technical and procedural challenges in the government's Electronic Public Procurement and Disposal System (EPADS) 2.0.

Key points

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• PIMS remarked technical bids and the Technical Evaluation Report are not visible to the GRC through the relevant Procurement Committee or Procuring Agency accounts.
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• The system can additionally handle multiple tenders, but PIMS stated it does not generate a technical comparative statement while preparing the Technical Evaluation Report.

According to correspondence sent by PIMS to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), the challenges affect bidder identification, technical evaluations, grievance proceedings, financial bid openings, comparative statements and other procurement functions. Govt Replaces Second Health Secretary Within A Month of PIMS Tragedy.

One major matter worries the prequalification of suppliers for bulk purchases of medicines. PIMS entered 472 drug and medicine items into EPADS 2.0, but the items are allegedly missing from the Standard Bidding Documents downloaded from the system.

As bidders may not be able to determine the full scope of the procurement, PIMS has asked PPRA to resolve the alleged matter before the prequalification is published.

Notably, the hospital has written to PPRA multiple times regarding challenges encountered while using the new system.

According to PIMS has additionally, EPADS displays the names of individuals rather than participating firms when technical bids are opened. The institute has asked PPRA to ensure that the names of bidding firms are shown.

Another matter worries the Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC). PIMS remarked technical bids and the Technical Evaluation Report are not visible to the GRC through the relevant Procurement Committee or Procuring Agency accounts.

For context, the institute has questioned how the committee can properly decide procurement complaints without access to the underlying bid and evaluation records.

PIMS has additionally triggered concern concerning the system requiring procuring agencies to provide a tentative financial bid opening date when uploading or announcing the Technical Evaluation Report.

Notably, the system can additionally handle multiple tenders, but PIMS stated it does not generate a technical comparative statement while preparing the Technical Evaluation Report. A number of other supporting procurement reports are additionally reportedly unavailable through EPADS.

Meanwhile, the hospital has further flagged problems in Request for Quotation (RFQ) and petty procurement. According to PIMS, the system allows winners to be declared for procurements exceeding the Rs500, 000 threshold.

PIMS has additionally sought clarification on cases where a successful firm fails to endorse the Letter of Intent or does not supply the awarded goods or services.

Notably, the institute has separately documented difficulties in advertising equipment maintenance tenders that additionally include spare parts.

EPADS was introduced in 2019 to digitize administration procurement and improve transparency and efficiency. Nevertheless, sources stated the system continues to face operational challenges despite years of development and reportedly more than Rs. 2 billion in World Bank-funded expenditure.

Sources alleged that weaknesses during the development and implementation of the system resulted in software challenges that continue to affect administration departments and the business community.

Sources further alleged that PPRA management has understated the system's shortcomings in reports submitted to the federal administration, despite worries and directives from the Prime Minister's Office.

Questions have additionally been raised over PPRA's procurement reform efforts, particularly its continued hiring of consultants despite having previously engaged a number of consultants on reportedly lucrative contracts.

ProPakistani has reached out to PPRA for their official response on the matter. It will be continued when received, but no response was received before publication. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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In short, govt Procurement System Allegedly Fails at PIMS is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.