PRESS RELEASE

Small Business Procurement Training 

Georgetown, Guyana – The Small Business Bureau (SBB), under the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, in collaboration with the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), for the second consecutive year, successfully hosted a significant Procurement Training at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Wednesday 3^rd July, 2024. This one day event, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of small businesses in competing for government contracts, was attended by over 109 participants, marking a milestone in the drive to empower small businesses in Guyana.

The collaboration between the Public Procurement Commission and the Small Business Bureau has proven to be instrumental in the success of this training. The event was designed to support the statutorily mandated Small Business Procurement Programme. S. 11 of the Small Business Act 2004 requires that the Government “use its best endeavors to ensure that at least 20% of the procurement of goods and services required annually by the Government is obtained from small businesses

This training is part of the PPC’s strategic effort to foster fair access to goods and services for small businesses in Guyana through public awareness so that persons may better navigate the system for maximum benefit. Article 212AA (1)(b) of the constitution mandates that the commission “promote awareness of the rules, procedures and special requirements of the procurement process among suppliers, contractors and public bodies.”

Ms. Tracy Gibson, Deputy Chairman of the Small Business Bureau, in delivering opening remarks emphasized the importance of this training in contributing to the economic development of the country. “Every year, the government purchases millions of dollars in procurement services. This Small Business Procurement Program ensures that small businesses have fair access to these opportunities. We encourage all participants to engage, ask questions, and foster collaborations that will drive their success,” she said.

Ms. Pauline Chase, Chairman of the Public Procurement Commission, highlighted the Commission’s mandate under Article 212AA (1), which includes monitoring, investigations, training, and legislative review. “Our team of specialists is here to offer you guidance in procurement. Take advantage of the program today and ask as many questions as you can. This is your opportunity to gain insights and clarity on the procurement process,” she advised.

Mr. Mohammed Shazim Ibrahim, CEO of the Small Business Bureau, during his presentation provided an overview of the Bureau’s services, including the SBB marketplace, sponsorship opportunities, youth entrepreneurship program, green technology fund, and the 20% procurement program. He also emphasized the importance of the SBB in supporting small businesses in their growth and development.

Ms. Raushell Underwood, Training Coordinator, led a session on navigating the web portal for tender submissions, demonstrating how to upload the required documents for the process. This hands-on training was crucial in ensuring participants are well-prepared to engage in government procurement.

The Public Procurement Commission commends the exemplary work of the Small Business Bureau (SBB) through the implementation of the online supplier portal, which has significantly enhanced micro and small businesses access to public sector procurement in Guyana. By establishing this information management system, the SBB has provided these businesses with a centralized view of Government invitations for bids and tenders. The cloud-based supplier portal offers registered clients access to a comprehensive bid library and a database of eligible businesses, streamlining bid creation, publishing, and information access, to ensure that at least 20% of government contracts are allotted to micro and small businesses in accordance with the Small Business Act. The SBB must be lauded for this progressive step taken in operationalizing the Small Business Procurement Portal thereby fostering growth and opportunities for small enterprises in Guyana, to drive local economic development.

The training was facilitated by the PPC’s Head of Operations, Mr. Dwight Dodson, along with Attorney-at-Law Ms. Esther Osborne, Procurement Specialist Mr. Davindra Persaud, and Civil Engineer Mr. Savion Paddy.

Throughout the day, participants gained clarity of public procurement, including the role and responsibilities of the Public Procurement Commission, the legislative framework under public procurement operates, the debarment process, procurement methods used in Guyana, tendering tips, tender opening and evaluations process. This knowledge is expected to empower participants to effectively participate in government procurement processes and leverage the 20% Procurement Programme to their advantage.

The training also featured interactive sessions where three lucky participants won prizes, adding an element of excitement and engagement to the day. The overwhelming positive feedback from participants underscores the importance and value of such initiatives in strengthening the capacity of small businesses.

The Public Procurement Commission remains committed to supporting small businesses and ensuring they have the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in the competitive landscape of government procurement. This training is a significant step towards achieving that goal. The commission looks forward to such further collaborations in the execution of its functions.

July 8^th, 2024.

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PRESS RELEASE
Public Procurement Commission Delivers Annual Report to Parliament

 

Georgetown, Guyana – The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) is pleased to announce the handover today of its Annual Report for the year 2022-2023 to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Manzoor Nadir. This morning’s event marks a significant milestone as it is not only the first Annual Report for the first year of operation of this, the second fully constituted PPC, but it is also the first Annual Report of the PPC to ever be laid before the National Assembly as required by Article 212CC of the constitution.

Pauline Chase, Chairman of the Public Procurement Commission who was accompanied by Deputy Chairman of the commission, Mr. Berkley Wickham, stated, “We are delighted to present this Report as we are mandated to do by Article 212CC of the constitution. The Report was actually completed since the end of last year but due to formatting and printing difficulties, its delivery was delayed. We are dedicated to presenting our next Annual Report before the end of this year, covering our second year of operation, which concludes next week on July 8th.”
The current PPC took office on July 8th, 2022, following a three-year hiatus without a fully constituted commission. “Upon assuming office, we encountered the challenge of re-establishing the commission and recruiting staff due to the expiration of previous contracts. However, we swiftly overcame these obstacles and commenced our mandated duties,” Chase explained.

The PPC operates under thirteen (13) constitutional functions outlined in Article 212AA (1) with key responsibilities including monitoring, investigations, training, and legislative review. Chase emphasized, “While investigations often garner the most attention, it is important to recognize our comprehensive role. Despite initial setbacks, we are pleased to report that we were nonetheless able to have diligently executed work across all of our main functional categories during our first year, expanding on the work of the past commission and embarking on new areas.”
Building on the foundation laid by the previous commission, the current PPC has made significant strides in fulfilling its mandate. “We are proud of our accomplishments over the past year and are committed to further enhancing our operations in our remaining period” Chase concluded. Pursuant to Article 212Y, Commissioners are appointed for a period of three (3) years and are not eligible for consecutive reappointment.

The Public Procurement Commission remains steadfast in its mission to ensure fair and transparent procurement practices in Guyana, contributing to the nation’s development and integrity.
The Hon. Speaker, who was accompanied by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Sherlock Issacs; the Deputy Clerk, Ms. Herminia Gilgeous, along with other staff members, expressed his congratulations to the Chairman and the commission for delivering this inaugural report to the National Assembly. He highlighted the significance of the legislative framework that ensures institutions like the PPC can perform essential oversight functions and independently establish policies.

“First, I wish to congratulate the Chairman and the Commission for presenting this first Annual Report to the National Assembly,” Speaker Nadir stated. “Importantly, we have the legislative infrastructure to ensure that we have institutions to perform oversight and to independently establish the policies of commissions like this.”
The Hon. Speaker in delivering remarks, commented on the process for the appointment of members of the commission. “While there may have been a hiatus between the appointment and the end of the last commission and this one, the process is a slow one because it starts in the National Assembly. It has to follow meticulous details in the Constitution with respect to appointing members of this commission,” Hon. Speaker Nadir explained.

Emphasizing the need for consensus, Hon. Speaker Nadir noted that achieving broad agreement among the nation’s representatives is a time-consuming but necessary endeavor. “It is painstakingly long, but in the end, the objective is a consensus commission that has the support of all the parties in the Assembly. So while people may say it’s long and there is a need for reform -that may be so. But if you want to get consensus, then consensus is always built around the least common denominator. That’s where you get consensus. And so it takes a long time.”
Reflecting on his extensive tenure in Parliament, Hon. Speaker Nadir expressed satisfaction with the progress made. “I am very, very pleased because I’ve seen the genesis of all these legislations and institutions, having been a fixture in this parliament for more than 28 years…so I’m very pleased to have seen this report.”

He also highlighted a significant change in the process of handling such reports, noting that they are now presented to the National Assembly rather than to ministers. This the Hon. Speaker noted cuts down on delays in having the Reports tabled. “Now these reports come to the parliament, not the ministers. And ministers, when reports go to them, those reports could be delayed, for one reason or the other. But here, we have reports coming to the Parliament. And it’s my duty to, as soon as we receive these reports, to have them tabled.”
The report is expected to be tabled in the National Assembly on July 8th, 2024. Hon. Speaker Nadir commended the Chairman and the commission for their dedication in producing this milestone document.

“Again, I am very, very pleased and honoured to receive this report today,” Hon. Speaker Nadir concluded. “Congratulations to the Chairman and the Commission for presenting the first-ever report of the Public Procurement Commission.”
After the Annual Report is tabled, an Executive Summary thereof will be published in accordance with Article 212CC (4) of the constitution.
Dated July 2nd, 2024.

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PRESS RELEASE

Strengthening Procurement Skills: Public Procurement Commission’s Training Session in Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni)

 

On June 21, 2024, the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) expanded its outreach efforts by hosting a public procurement training session at the RDC Board Room in Mahdia. The session attracted a number of participation including members from various sectors such as the Regional Executive Office (REO), Regional Tender Board, Guyana Police Force, evaluators, engineers, Town Council representatives, procurement personnel, and staff from health, public works, education, administrative, and finance departments within the region. The training was facilitated by the PPC’s Head of Operations, Attorney-at-Law, Procurement Specialist, and Training Officer. As in other Regions already reached during the PPC’s ongoing Regional Training Exercise, the training session covered a diverse range of topics relevant to not only the Commission’s operations but also the public procurement process, including:

1. The Public Procurement Commission’s role and responsibilities (mission, vision, core values and function).
2. The Legislative Framework, Administrative Review and Debarment Process.
3. The Public Procurement Process.
4. The Procurement Plan Preparation.
5. Threshold and Tender Openings.
6. The Evaluation Process.

The training was held as part of the Commission’s ongoing public awareness campaign to apprise stakeholders of the rules and procedures governing the public procurement system.

Through the training exercise, the PPC was able to bring clarity to various aspects of the procurement process, including compliance, bid document preparation, administrative review of contracts, evaluation processes, investigation procedures, and publications.

Participants provided several strong recommendations, highlighting areas of improvement and challenges they face in procurement management within the locality. The positive response from Region 8 emphasizes the impact of these sessions, reinforcing the need for continued engagement with participants to gather feedback and identify opportunities to improve the current system.

With this engagement in Region 8, a total of seven (7) of the Administrative Regions would have received training in the PPC’s aforementioned Regional Training Exercise.

Anticipating future engagements, the PPC is scheduled to deliver similar procurement training in Regions 1 and 9 in the coming weeks. The PPC is eager to continue these training sessions, ensuring comprehensive and effective procurement education throughout each region. By expanding our training efforts, we aim to foster a transparent, efficient, and accountable procurement system that benefits all stakeholders and supports sustainable development across Guyana.

The PPC is mandated by Article 212AA (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to “promote awareness of the rules, procedures and special requirements of the procurement process among suppliers, contractors and public bodies.” Additionally, under section 17(2) (c) of the Procurement Act, Cap. 75:03, the Commission is responsible for organizing training seminars regarding public procurement.

The objective of this training session was to enrich participants with information to improve the public procurement system within their respective entity.

Entities seeking more information or requiring public procurement training may easily contact the Commission at (592) 226-3729, (592) 231-7306, or (592) 226-2364, or via email at operations@ppc.org.gy.

June 24, 2024

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Building Procurement Skills: Public Procurement Commission Extends its Training to Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

 

In a strategic move to improve procurement practices and promote accountability, the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) expanded its outreach to Region 7 with a comprehensive training session held on June 14, 2024, at Bartica Learning and Resource Centre.

The training session drew a diverse group of 30 participants from various sectors, including members of the Regional Executive Office (REO), Regional Tender Board, evaluators, engineers, and Town Council members. Attendees also included procurement staff, personnel from multiple regional and municipal departments such as accounts, procurement, planning, and health, as well as representatives from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The training session covered a diverse range of topics relevant to the commission’s operations and the procurement process, including:

1. The Public Procurement Commission’s role and responsibilities (mission, vision, core values and function).
2. The Legislative Framework, Administrative Review and Debarment Process.
3. The Public Procurement Process.
4. The Procurement Plan Preparation.
5. Threshold and Tender Openings.
6. The Evaluation Process.

Following successful training sessions in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10, the commission is pleased to announce a favourable response from Region 7, which recently benefited from a procurement training conducted by the commission. The positive feedback from Region 7 emphasizes the significant value and impact of these sessions, reinforcing the Public Procurement Commission’s (PPC) dedication to improving procurement practices throughout all regions. This initiative is crucial in ensuring standardized, transparent, and efficient procurement processes across the country, thereby fostering greater accountability and better resource management.

Looking forward, the PPC is poised to extend similar training programs to Regions 1, 8, and 9 in the upcoming weeks, which will complete coverage across all ten administrative regions. By equipping stakeholders with the requisite knowledge and skills, the PPC aims to cultivate a transparent, efficient, and accountable procurement ecosystem conducive to sustainable development in Guyana.

Section 19(1) of the Procurement Act, Cap. 73:05 provides for the National Board (NPTAB) to create within each administrative region, a Regional Tender Board which is subject to the provisions of the Act. It is therefore imperative that the Regional Tender Boards are acquainted with and have a working knowledge of the procurement processes mandated by the Act.

The PPC is mandated by Article 212AA (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to “promote awareness of the rules, procedures and special requirements of the procurement process among suppliers, contractors and public bodies.” Additionally, under Section 17(2) (c) of the Procurement Act, Cap. 75:03, the commission is responsible for organizing training seminars regarding public procurement.

The objective of this training session was to enrich participants with information to improve the public procurement system within their respective entities.

Entities seeking further information or interested in procurement training opportunities are encouraged to contact the Commission via telephone at (592) 226-3729, (592) 231-7306, and (592) 226-2364 or by email at operations@ppc.org.gy.

END

Date: June 14, 2024

Building Procurement Skills: Public Procurement Commission Extends its training to Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice)

On 5 June 2024, the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) (‘the commission’) extended its outreach by conducting a public procurement training session at the Watooka Guest House in Linden. The session saw the participation of twenty-six (26) individuals, including members of the Regional Executive Office (REO), Regional Tender Board Members, evaluators, engineers, Town Council members, procurement staff, and personnel from the health, public works, education, agriculture, and the admin and finance department within the Region.

The training was led by the PPC’s Chief Executive Officer, Attorney-at-Law, Procurement Specialist, and Training Officer.

The training session covered a diverse range of topics relevant to the commission’s operations and the procurement process, including:

1. The Public Procurement Commission’s role and responsibilities (mission, vision, core values and function).
2. The Legislative Framework, Administrative Review and Debarment Process.
3. The Public Procurement Process.
4. The Procurement Plan Preparation.
5. Threshold and Tender Openings.
6. The Evaluation Process.

The training was held as part of the commission’s ongoing public awareness campaign to apprise stakeholders of the rules and procedures governing the public procurement system so that they may better navigate the procurement process and comply with all of the aforesaid rules and procedures.

Following successful training sessions so far for 2024 in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the commission is pleased to report of the highly favorable response from Region 10, which benefitted from its first procurement training from the commission. The positive feedback highlights the value and impact of these sessions, underscoring the PPC’s commitment to enhancing procurement practices across all regions.

Looking ahead, the commission is scheduled to deliver similar procurement training in Regions 1, 7, 8, and 9 in the coming weeks and thereby covering all ten (10) administrative regions. The PPC is eager to continue this journey, ensuring comprehensive and effective procurement education throughout the regions. By expanding our training efforts, the commission aims to foster a transparent, efficient, and accountable procurement system that benefits all stakeholders and supports sustainable development across Guyana.

Section 19(1) of the Procurement Act, Cap. 73:05 provides for the National Board (NPTAB) to create within each administrative region, a Regional Tender Board which is subject to the provisions of the Act. It is therefore imperative that the Regional Tender Boards are acquainted with and have a working knowledge of the procurement processes mandated by the Act.

The PPC is mandated by Article 212AA (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to “promote awareness of the rules, procedures and special requirements of the procurement process among suppliers, contractors and public bodies.” Additionally, under Section 17(2) (c) of the Procurement Act, Cap. 75:03, the commission is responsible for organizing training seminars regarding public procurement.

The objective of this training session was to enrich participants with information to improve the public procurement system within their respective entity.

Entities seeking more information or who may require public procurement training may contact the Commission on telephone numbers (592) 226-3729, (592) 231-7306, and (592) 226-2364 or via email at operations@ppc.org.gy.

Dated 6 June 2024

 

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Public Procurement Commission (PPC) Engages with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to Strengthen Procurement Processes

8^Th May 2024, Georgetown, Guyana. The Public Procurement Commission(PPC) held a meeting with representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on May 8th, 2024, at the PPC’s offices located at 262 New Garden Street, Queenstown. The meeting was aimed at enhancing the execution of the commission’s functions towards strengthening procurement processes in Guyana and was attended by key officials from both organizations.

The PPC was represented by Ms. Pauline Chase, Chairman; Mr. Berkley Wickham, Deputy Chairman; and Commissioners Dianna Rajcumar, Joel Bhagwandin, and Rajnarine Singh along with its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Singh. Representatives from the IDB included Ms. Lorena Solórzano Salazar, IDB Representative in Guyana; Mr. Iván-Alonzo Gaviria, Chief of Operations; and Ms. Patricia Yamilee Payen, Procurement Specialist.

Under the mandate of Articles 212W and 212AA of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the PPC is vested with oversight of the public procurement system and as enabled by Section 17(2) of the Procurement Act, Cap. 73:05 is inter alia responsible for organizing training seminars on procurement and making recommendations to the subject Minister for amendment(s) to the legislation to enhance the efficiency of the procurement process.

During the meeting, several key matters were addressed, including:

• Assistance from the IDB: The IDB pledged its support in guiding the PPC in international best practices in developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for monitoring the procurement process, execution of contracts oversight, and standard bidding documents. This includes international best practices in the evaluation process, evaluation guide and standard evaluation report format.
• Collaboration for Evaluator Training: The IDB committed to collaborating with the PPC in training evaluators in international best practices for the evaluation process. This builds on previous training exercises of the PPC supported by the IDB.

The meeting follows prior engagements between the PPC and the IDB particularly in the area of legislative reform aimed at improving Guyana’s public procurement framework emanating from the 2018 Report, “Strengthening of the Public Procurement Framework in Guyana,” prepared by Ms. Sabine Engelhardt, IDB Consultant, Attorney-at-Law, and Procurement Specialist.

In the past, the IDB has engaged with the Public Procurement Commission on various initiatives, and other areas of support, including training for contractors and suppliers in IBD funded projects.

The PPC maintains an ongoing working relationship with the IDB to continually strengthen public procurement systems. This meeting is part of the PPC’s commitment to fostering collaboration and implementation of best practices to optimize procurement procedures for the benefit of the nation.

For further information, please contact the Public Procurement Commission at (592) 226-3729, (592) 231-7306, and (592) 226-2364, or via email at publicprocurement@ppc.org.gy.

Contact:

Public Procurement Commission
262 New Garden Street, Queenstown, Guyana
Phone: (592) 226-3729, (592) 231-7306, (592) 226-2364
Email: publicprocurement@ppc.org.gy
Website: www.ppc.org.gy

 

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Public Procurement Commission Procurement Training extends to Region No.6 (East Berbice – Corentyne)

The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) on 30^th April 2024, extended its outreach and conducted a public procurement training at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) boardroom, Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam.

Fourteen (14) participants, including the Region’s Deputy Regional Executive Officer, members of the Regional Tender Board, Evaluators, procurement staff, as well as personnel from health, public works, education, and accounting departments within the Region, participated in discussions with the Public Procurement Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Attorney-at-Law, Procurement Specialist, and Training Officer. The training session covered a diverse range of topics relevant to the Commission’s operations, including:

• The Public Procurement Commission’s role and responsibilities (mission, vision, core values and function).
• The Legislative Framework, Administrative Review and Debarment Process.
• The Public Procurement Process.
• The Procurement Plan Preparation.
• Threshold and Tender Openings.
• The Evaluation Process.

The event was held as part of the Commission’s ongoing public awareness campaign to apprise stakeholders of the rules and procedures governing the public procurement system so that they may better navigate the procurement process and comply with all of the aforesaid rules and procedures.

The PPC is mandated by Article 212AA (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to “promote awareness of the rules, procedures and special requirements of the procurement process among suppliers, contractors and public bodies.” Additionally, pursuant to section 17(2) (c) of the Procurement Act, Cap. 75:03, the Commission is responsible for organising training seminars regarding public procurement.

The objective of this training session was to enrich participants with information to improve the public procurement system within their respective organisations.

Entities seeking more information or who may require public procurement training may contact the Commission on telephone numbers (592) 226-3729, (592) 231-7306, and (592) 226-2364 or via email at operations@ppc.org.gy.

The Public Procurement Commission (PPC) on 29^th April, 2024, extended its outreach and conducted a public procurement training at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) boardroom, Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice.

Eighteen (18) participants, comprising that Region’s Assistant Regional Executive Officer, Deputy Regional Executive Officer,  members of the Regional Tender Board, Regional Engineer, Evaluators, NDC Overseers, procurement staff and accounting personnel from the Region, engaged in discussions with the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Attorney-at-Law, Procurement Specialist and Training Officer. The topics covered during the training session were diverse and encompassed various aspects relevant to the Commission’s operations, including:

• The Public Procurement Commission’s role and responsibilities (mission, vision, core values and function).
• The Legislative Framework, Administrative Review and Debarment Process.
• The Public Procurement Process.
• The Procurement Plan Preparation.
• Threshold and Tender Openings.
• The Evaluation Process.

The event was held as part of the Commission’s ongoing public awareness campaign to apprise stakeholders of the rules and procedures governing the public procurement system so that they may better navigate the procurement process and comply with all of the aforesaid rules and procedures.

The PPC is mandated by Article 212AA (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana to “promote awareness of the rules, procedures and special requirements of the procurement process among suppliers, contractors and public bodies.” Additionally, pursuant to section 17(2) (c) of the Procurement Act, Cap. 75:03, the Commission is responsible for organising training seminars regarding public procurement.

The objective of this training session was to enrich participants with information to improve the public procurement system within their respective organisations.

Entities seeking more information or who may require public procurement training may contact the Commission on telephone numbers (592) 226-3729, (592) 231-7306, and (592) 226-2364 or via email at operations@ppc.org.gy.