The Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) has launched a website to assist government officials and personnel of state-owned enterprises to create tenders, and to provide guidance to suppliers bidding for tenders.
The website forms part of the OCPO’s objective of minimising procurement-related corruption in government while, at the same time, making government’s supply chain management (SCM) system more accessible and innovative.
Third parties unfamiliar with government procedures can access the website for information on government SCM, including a glossary of terms.
For public sector personnel creating tenders the website references all the legislation that applies to government procurement (Acts, Practice notes, Circulars, Guidelines and information on designated sectors). They can also download the forms to advertise their tender in the tender bulletin.
Furthermore, the standard bidding forms (SBD1 to SBD6, including documents such as ‘Invitation to bid’ and ‘Declaration of interest’) will be made available for download.
Potential suppliers can view a list of open tenders as well as government requests for proposals and requests for information.
The OCPO will list future tenders on the site and any tenders that have been awarded (the details of those who bid and the successful bidders).
Importantly, the website outlines the first steps that a supplier must take to respond to a tender, and makes available the procurement rules and legislation that apply to bidders.
Potential suppliers will be able to register on the supplier database used by government.
Certain pages and links are not yet active, but Treasury has indicated that they will soon be active.
