IMED turns down request for PPR waiver
Thursday, 11 October 2007
FHM Humayan Kabir
The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) has turned down a request for waiver of the Public Procurement Regulation (PPR) provision for the appointment of a consultant by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The consultant will be appointed to prepare the detailed design for the proposed Padma bridge.
Sources in the IMED told the FE that the communications ministry and economic relations division (ERD) request for waiver had been turned down due to insufficient documentation.
"The IMED has the authority to waive PPR 2003 provisions after taking into consideration requisite documents related to agreements between the fund provider and the project implementing agency," an IMED official said.
Both the Communications Ministry and the ERD last month sent letters to the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) under the IMED seeking the "PPR 2003 waiver" for appointment of a consultant by the Manila-based donor.
Sources said the ADB had set a condition that it would appoint a consultant for the Padma Bridge project on its own. The waiver was sought in line with the ADB condition.
The sources informed the FE that the Manila-based lender had already started the process for selection of the consultant through an international bidding.
Meanwhile, sources in the IMED said as per the PPR 2003 and the Public Procurement Act, 2006, only the government can procure goods or services under any public development funds.
Since the ADB loan to be provided to the government for conducting the detailed design of the Padma Bridge project, the IMED wants to treat it as 'public fund' and in such case only the government is entitled to appoint the consultant for the project, sources in the IMED said.
"But in the national interest, the authorities can allow a donor for procuring goods and services under the regulation-4 of the PPR. Then it will have to take concurrence of the CPTU and Cabinet Division," a senior IMED official said.
According to the sources, the ADB assured the government to provide US$17.6 million loan as technical assistance to prepare the detailed design for constructing the Tk 101.6175 billion ($1.46 billion) Padma Bridge on condition that it would appoint the consultant itself.
Earlier, disagreeing with the condition of the Manila-based lender, the ministry of communications expressed its willingness to appoint the consultant itself for the detailed design of the proposed Padma Bridge, sources in the ministry said.
In a letter to the ADB, the ministry cleared its position, stating that the condition of the Bank about the supervision of the construction work of the proposed multi-purpose bridge over the Padma river is contrary to the country's existing policy.
The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) has turned down a request for waiver of the Public Procurement Regulation (PPR) provision for the appointment of a consultant by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The consultant will be appointed to prepare the detailed design for the proposed Padma bridge.
Sources in the IMED told the FE that the communications ministry and economic relations division (ERD) request for waiver had been turned down due to insufficient documentation.
"The IMED has the authority to waive PPR 2003 provisions after taking into consideration requisite documents related to agreements between the fund provider and the project implementing agency," an IMED official said.
Both the Communications Ministry and the ERD last month sent letters to the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) under the IMED seeking the "PPR 2003 waiver" for appointment of a consultant by the Manila-based donor.
Sources said the ADB had set a condition that it would appoint a consultant for the Padma Bridge project on its own. The waiver was sought in line with the ADB condition.
The sources informed the FE that the Manila-based lender had already started the process for selection of the consultant through an international bidding.
Meanwhile, sources in the IMED said as per the PPR 2003 and the Public Procurement Act, 2006, only the government can procure goods or services under any public development funds.
Since the ADB loan to be provided to the government for conducting the detailed design of the Padma Bridge project, the IMED wants to treat it as 'public fund' and in such case only the government is entitled to appoint the consultant for the project, sources in the IMED said.
"But in the national interest, the authorities can allow a donor for procuring goods and services under the regulation-4 of the PPR. Then it will have to take concurrence of the CPTU and Cabinet Division," a senior IMED official said.
According to the sources, the ADB assured the government to provide US$17.6 million loan as technical assistance to prepare the detailed design for constructing the Tk 101.6175 billion ($1.46 billion) Padma Bridge on condition that it would appoint the consultant itself.
Earlier, disagreeing with the condition of the Manila-based lender, the ministry of communications expressed its willingness to appoint the consultant itself for the detailed design of the proposed Padma Bridge, sources in the ministry said.
In a letter to the ADB, the ministry cleared its position, stating that the condition of the Bank about the supervision of the construction work of the proposed multi-purpose bridge over the Padma river is contrary to the country's existing policy.