Ariba (previously Quadrem) is assisting the Provincial Government of the Western Cape (PGWC) to implement its policy to only contract with businesses duly registered on the Western Cape Supplier Database (WCSD), Catherine Hills, Partner: Global Accounts at Ariba, tells SmartProcurement.
WCSD is a centralised supplier database administered by Ariba on behalf of PGWC. It houses suppliers’ minimum, mandatory registration requirements to contract with the Public Sector.
Beginning April 1, 2012, PGWC will only contract with organisations listed on WCSD.
National Treasury Preferential Regulations state that preferential points may only be awarded to suppliers in respect of their B-BBEE contribution status. Ariba has been tasked with gathering the verified BEE status for both current and potential supplier profiles registered and maintained on the WCSD and supporting how this ultimately affects the awarding of bids.
This process includes an educational process to clearly inform suppliers of this new reality and assist them to register on the database, says Hills.
Furthermore, Ariba participated in an informational Supplier Road Show series hosted by PGWC in November 2011 to help educate the supplier community on the critical impact of the new regulations and what is required of them.
Sessions were hosted in the Central Karoo region, Eden, Overberg, the Winelands, the Metropole and concluded in the West Coast region.
During the events Ariba outlined the role a supplier database administrator plays in adopting a centralised supplier database. It educated suppliers on the objectives, advantages, and the approaching compulsory registration associated with the database, and the gathering of BEE data.
Ariba provides the following to assist suppliers to the Public Sector:
• An Inbound Call Centre (telephonic helpdesk) to suppliers requiring specialised assistance with the registration process.
• A Walk-in Centre to assist suppliers face-to-face with any registration queries.
• An Outbound Call Centre and Admin facility to communicate with suppliers who have submitted registrations.
• Responsible for the accurate data capture and verification of complete registrations on the Supplier Database.
• Issues registered, verified suppliers with a Verification Certificate indicating their Supplier Database registration number and status.
Ariba will continue to offer these services and provide suppliers with the registration assistance they require as part of their contract agreement with Provincial Government Western Cape.
All prospective Service Providers are invited to register as a supplier on the Western Cape Supplier Database status by contacting the Western Cape Helpdesk on 0861 225 577 or 021 680 4666 / www.supplierdatabase@quadrem.com.
All Service Providers who are currently registered on the Western Cape Supplier Database are also invited to update their profiles as soon as possible.
For more information contact Catherine Hills on chills@quadrem.com. Quadrem was acquired in 2011 by Ariba, Inc and is now fully integrated and operating as Ariba.
Following on it success training more than 500 PGWC municipal and provincial officials in the Compliance and Implementation of the Amended PPPFA Regulations, Commerce Edge South Africa, a member of the IMPERIAL Logistics group, will be hosting a one-day workshop on 25 January 2012 in Centurion where the latest PPPFA Treasury Guidelines will be reviewed in detail.
To enquire about the programme roll out or attend the Centurion session e-mail admin@smartprocurement.co.za or call the Events Co-ordinator Erieka Santos on 086 133 4326.
