Commission told to explain delay

By REBECCA KUKU
THE National Procurement Commission (NPC) has been told to explain why two contracts for the distribution of 100 per cent medical kits were awarded to companies that failed to meet financial requirements.
Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Dr Lino Tom told Parliament yesterday that the delay in the distribution of the 100 per cent medical kits was because the NPC had delayed the awarding of the contracts.
Tom said that the tender was advertised in January and the contract awarded in August by the NPC.
Earlier this month, the commission said the kits were still sitting in containers, yet to be sent to health facilities.
NPC chief executive officer Simon Bole had urged the Health Department to fast-track the supply of the medical kits which had been delayed for more than eight months.
Bole confirmed that the contracts were awarded on July 22.
He clarified that the delay was not in the awarding of the contracts, but because the Health Department had refused to pay the 10 per cent mobilisation fees to the four contractors that were awarded contracts to distribute the medical kits.
Shadow Health Minister Elias Kapavore had questioned in Parliament yesterday the delay in the distribution of the 100 per cent medical kits.
But Tom said that the department did not release the mobilisation funds because he claimed that the two contractors who won the contracts for the New Guinea Islands and the Highlands region did not have the 10 per cent security guarantee.
He then urged the NPC to explain why the contracts were awarded to them.