Cabinet in its meeting on the 20th of July 2010 passed the Fiji Procurement Regulations which will regulate the core procurement function for the whole of Government.
The Fiji Procurement Regulations establishes the Fiji Procurement Office and the Government Tender Board and their respective functions.
The Regulations has been developed taking into consideration the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Guide to Procurement and other guides used by ADB and other Commonwealth countries outlining international best practices on procurement.
It is also coherent with the Government’s broad financial management framework under the Financial Management Act 2004.
The Fiji Procurement Office and the Government Tender Board are scheduled to begin operations in the first week of August and the first few months will involve training of key staff involved in procurement.
The Government Tender Board will take on the functions of the Major Tenders Board and the Public Works Tender Board for the procurement of goods, services and works valued at over $30,000.
This is to ensure consistency in procurement and tender practices and to enhance transparency and accountability in the awarding of Government contracts.
All tender submissions for Government contracts will now be lodged with the Fiji Procurement Office at the Ministry of Finance Headquarters in Ro Lalabalavu House.
The Fiji Procurement Regulations also introduces the Annual Procurement Plan which is an annual submission to be made by government agencies.
The Annual Procurement Plan will summarize individual agencies procurements during a budget year thereby allowing the Fiji Procurement Office to secure better prices and value for money for Government’s procurements.
The enactment of the Fiji Procurement Regulations repeals the Supplies and Services Regulations 2005 and the Public Works Regulations 2005. The provisions in the Finance Instructions that pertain to procurement have been included in the newly enacted Procurement Regulations to ensure consistency and ease of reference on all procurement issues.
The Procurement Regulations comes into force on the 1st of August 2010.