The effort to modernize Liberia’s public procurement is moving forward from one stage to the next, as demonstrated by the most recent action. On January 11, 2023, interested vendors and stakeholders gathered in the conference room of the PPCC to either observe or take part in the bid opening process for the supply, installation, configuration, deployment, and maintenance of an electronic government procurement (e-GP) system based on a Software as a Service (SAAS) model.
The Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, with funding from the World Bank and through the Public Financial Management Reforms Institutional Strengthening Project (PFMRISP), published a tender notice in October 2022, asking eligible vendors to participate in the bidding process for the supply, installation, configuration, deployment, and maintenance of an electronic government procurement (e-GP) system for the Government of Liberia on the Software as a Serv platform. This project was made possible by the Public Financial Management Reforms Institutional Strengthening
Atty. Jargbe Roseline Nagbe Kowo, the Chief Executive Officer of the PPCC, gave assurances to the participating vendors and various stakeholders regarding the Commission’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and transparent process.
She acknowledged the involvement and support of the World Bank and the African Development Bank towards the modernization efforts of Liberia’s public procurement system.
On January 11, 2023, seven bids were received and opened in the presence of bidders’ representatives, officials of the Project Management Unit (PMU) based in the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and some staff members of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission. The PMU and PMU officials are based in the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. The evaluation procedure is currently being carried out, and the qualified vendor will be identified once the evaluation has been finished.
Free Balance, Soft-Tech Consultant Ltd., Tanzania, in joint venture with Bob’s E-Procurement Limited, India, Deloitte, Tenace Professional Services Ltd., in joint venture with Next Tenders, India, and Ipray Solutions Liberia Ltd., European Dynamics, Luxembourg, in joint venture with European Dynamics, Greece, and Catalyst Business Solutions DMCC, United Arab Emirates are some of the companies that are taking part in the E-GP bidding process.
At the conclusion of the event, the representatives of the bidders who had been present during the opening process expressed their gratitude to the PPCC for facilitating a smooth and honest procedure throughout the entire opening process.
They expressed delight and confidence in the process, and they assured the PPCC of their commitment to develop a standardized electronic procurement system that will address a significant number of the challenges that are associated with the procurement process.
