Catering company throws sand in food tender

JEMIMA BEUKES WINDHOEKSeal Caterers has dragged the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN), the education ministry and 97 other companies to court over a food tender, demanding that they reconsider all bids afresh.These companies include Flamingo Inflight Services, Windhoek Palm Hotel, Die Mamas Kitchen CC and Atlantic Catering Solutions.However, Seal Caterers is not the only company opposing the award of the tender, with several others having in the meantime submitted their grievances. According to CPBN chairperson Patrick Swartz, the matter is enjoying the attention of the review panel and the board is in the process of filing replying affidavits.“The review panel will set a date for the hearing and we will appear before it. The date will probably be set once they have collated the information from all companies,” he said. Unfair treatmentSeal Caterers managing director Dirk van Schalkwyk said their disqualification is unfair and had they been chosen, government would have saved between N$8.3 and N$14 million per year.This, he said, comes to a massive saving of about N$42 million for the duration of the tender period.He also said if the properly priced tender amounts were accepted, government would have saved N$177 million.In his founding affidavit, Van Shalkwyk demands that the CPBN review and set aside its decision to disqualify its tender bid for the procurement of food to government schools.He also demands that the CPBN overturn its decision to award the tender to nine companies, claiming there were serious shortcomings in their bids.Van Schalkwyk further accused the CPBN of adapting all the bids of the successful bidders after the closing date.According to him, some of the prices offered by some of these bidders were substantially increased by the board.Leniency for someAccording to Van Schalkwyk, documents suggest that some of the successful bidders were evaluated with substantial leniency.He said Tuthikameni Pamwe Investments CC, awarded the tender to provide food in the Erongo and Kunene regions, only provided global prices, contrary to the requirements of the bidding process.On the other hand, STS Mega Investment CC and Igloo Investments CC were disqualified for the same mistake.Van Schalkwyk also pointed out that Johannes Neputa, who submitted an individual bid for Om’kwana Caterer CC, is listed as the accounting officer of three other companies which bid for the process.According to him, the fact that all four these companies were successful in their bidding indicates that something is amiss. “His multiple roles are also contrary to the strict prohibition of conflict of interest contained in the instructions to the bidders,” Van Schalkwyk said.jemima@namibiansun.com

Catering company throws sand in food tender

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-25

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Catering company throws sand in food tender

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-25

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