GOVERNMENT PRESS STATEMENT

NO: 17/2013

Purchase of new Government vehicles

                                                                 

Following an article that appeared in the TIMES SUNDAY of 27 October 2013, titled ‘Secret E303M Tender’ we wish to clarify the position as follows.

(a) Earlier this year the Government of Swaziland decided to procure 940 vehicles for various Ministries and Departments to aid the smooth operations of Government business. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport was accordingly directed to urgently purchase the new vehicles for all Government Ministries and Departments.

(b) The procurement process was conducted in accordance to the Government Procurement Regulations of 2008. The Regulations provide for a number of procurement methods which include Single Sourcing, Limited Tendering and Open Tendering.

(c) For the procurement of vehicles, in conformity with Government Procurement Regulation of 2008, 44(1), (3) (a) (b) and 41 (1) (3) the following steps were taken:

• Permission was sought from the Ministry of Finance to use Limited and Single Source Tendering Methods. The main justification for using these methods was that the procurement was very urgent as it was anticipated that these vehicles would be used during the recent Elections.
• The Ministry of Finance through a Memo on 16^th April 2013 granted Authority to use Single Source and Limited Tendering Procurement Methods.
• As part of the vehicle purchase exercise, Government decided that in order to minimize costs, efforts should be made to purchase the vehicles direct from the manufacturers. Accordingly two manufacturing companies were visited in South Africa to explore this possibility, whilst a third company advised that the local dealer be used for such consultations.
• In line with the Parliament Resolution contained in the PAC Report on March 2011, page 101, paragraph (h), which calls for the Standardization of the Government Fleet; and considering past history and performance of the Government fleet, Government took a decision to invite bids from three car manufacturing companies namely: G M Motors SA, Toyota South Africa and Nissan South Africa, who then chose to be represented by their local dealers.
• The selected tenderers were invited to submit bids based on stipulated conditions and specifications.
• The bids were evaluated by an Evaluation Committee at CTA, presented to an Internal Tender Committee at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport which then made a recommendation to the National Tender Board under Ministry of Finance.
• The Tender was awarded to Mbabane GM Motors, who are delivering already.
• The Government’s position therefore is that all processes were followed and all parties were involved including the Ministry of Finance and the necessary approvals were obtained at every stage from the National Tender Board.
• Submissions made to us by the two ministries concerned point to a communication breakdown than to breach of procedure .

 

Percy N. Simelane                                                       31^st October, 2013

GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN