Govt office tender under the spotlight

AN Ombudsman Commission investigation into the government office allocation committee reveals that proper processes were not followed in the engagement of a firm to build a 32-floor Government office complex at Waigani.
The report which was tabled in Parliament yesterday revealed that the decision by the committee to engage Central Land Limited to build the Central Government office complex in Port Moresby was improper.
The report said the committee was wrong in obtaining Cabinet endorsement of the company which was outside of the procurement process provided in the Public Finance Management Act.
It said the committee did not
ask Cabinet to re-tender the company’s proposal in line with the legislation but proceeded to sign a memorandum of understanding with the firm.
It facilitated the engagement of the company on the construction of the building which should have been done by the Central Supply Tenders Board.
The report stated that there was a non-compliance of tender requirements, and provisions of the Act on the facilitation of the proposal and engagement of the firm to build the office complex.
The report recommended that the committee, through the then Minister for Public Service Sir Puka Temu, informed Cabinet of the State Solicitor’s advice for the Central Government Office Complex to be procured by CSTB in accordance with the Act.