Procurement watchdog to operate without ministerial exemptions
No exemptions
CPBN chairperson Mary Shimii says the board has adapted and remains capable of functioning effectively.
The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) is now operating without ministerial exemptions - a shift that places full responsibility for procurement efficiency squarely on the board.
Previously, these exemptions allowed for extended bid evaluation periods, which in the past took up to 180 days but have now been streamlined to just 30 days.
CPBN board chairperson Mary Shiimi gave the assurance that the board has adapted and remains capable of functioning effectively.
“We do not have that exemption from the minister anymore, but we are managing. We are seeing that it is possible to refine the process and make it more efficient,” Shiimi said.
She made these remarks while speaking to Market Watch during the official launch of CPBN’s public and bidders’ campaign in Windhoek on Wednesday.
The campaign aims to reinforce fair and transparent procurement processes while addressing common issues the bidders face.
Shiimi touched on the board’s recent achievements, including the appointment of CEO Idi Itope and significant improvements in bid processing times.
“I am particularly happy that we managed to get a CEO for the organisation. That is one big box that we ticked off,” she said.
The chairperson further emphasised that CPBN’s efforts are geared towards building public trust. “To create more trust from public entities that CPBN is managing its mandate, we are supervising and monitoring. That is why we want to enhance our monitoring department, so we can be more visible on the ground, ensuring that the projects and bids we award are successful and implemented according to the required standards.”
'Pay attention'
Meanwhile, CPBN spokesperson Johanna Kambala urged bidders to pay close attention to submission guidelines to avoid disqualification due to avoidable errors.
“It is important for you to follow the guidelines and requirements so that you do not fall out early in the process,” Kambala stressed.
“Many bidders are disqualified before even reaching the financial evaluation stage simply because they failed to initial documents.”
She pointed out the need for pre-bid meetings and bidder education outreach, urging participants to take advantage of these opportunities. “Unfortunately, many bidders do not take these meetings seriously. They later encounter problems when their bids are disqualified. Pre-bid meetings are crucial, especially for sectors like construction, where visiting the site can make a big difference in preparing a successful bid.”
Kambala also advised businesses to assign someone responsible to quality-check bid documents before submission.
“Before that 150-page bidding document reaches CPBN on the closing day, have someone do a quality check. Many bidders are well-prepared but still lose out due to minor yet costly mistakes."
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Previously, these exemptions allowed for extended bid evaluation periods, which in the past took up to 180 days but have now been streamlined to just 30 days.
CPBN board chairperson Mary Shiimi gave the assurance that the board has adapted and remains capable of functioning effectively.
“We do not have that exemption from the minister anymore, but we are managing. We are seeing that it is possible to refine the process and make it more efficient,” Shiimi said.
She made these remarks while speaking to Market Watch during the official launch of CPBN’s public and bidders’ campaign in Windhoek on Wednesday.
The campaign aims to reinforce fair and transparent procurement processes while addressing common issues the bidders face.
Shiimi touched on the board’s recent achievements, including the appointment of CEO Idi Itope and significant improvements in bid processing times.
“I am particularly happy that we managed to get a CEO for the organisation. That is one big box that we ticked off,” she said.
The chairperson further emphasised that CPBN’s efforts are geared towards building public trust. “To create more trust from public entities that CPBN is managing its mandate, we are supervising and monitoring. That is why we want to enhance our monitoring department, so we can be more visible on the ground, ensuring that the projects and bids we award are successful and implemented according to the required standards.”
'Pay attention'
Meanwhile, CPBN spokesperson Johanna Kambala urged bidders to pay close attention to submission guidelines to avoid disqualification due to avoidable errors.
“It is important for you to follow the guidelines and requirements so that you do not fall out early in the process,” Kambala stressed.
“Many bidders are disqualified before even reaching the financial evaluation stage simply because they failed to initial documents.”
She pointed out the need for pre-bid meetings and bidder education outreach, urging participants to take advantage of these opportunities. “Unfortunately, many bidders do not take these meetings seriously. They later encounter problems when their bids are disqualified. Pre-bid meetings are crucial, especially for sectors like construction, where visiting the site can make a big difference in preparing a successful bid.”
Kambala also advised businesses to assign someone responsible to quality-check bid documents before submission.
“Before that 150-page bidding document reaches CPBN on the closing day, have someone do a quality check. Many bidders are well-prepared but still lose out due to minor yet costly mistakes."
[email protected]
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