22 Nov 2022

The total value of 13 tenders awarded to Monteco Solutions since its formation to date is P98 139 082. 55 representing 6.9 per cent of the total value tenders awarded, the Minister of Finance Ms Peggy Serame has said.

Responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Maun West Mr Dumelang Saleshando, Ms Serame said Monteco Solutions was awarded framework contracts and short once-off requests for quotations for the Ministry of Health.

She explained that framework contracts were of a duration of two to three years such that after signing them, the procuring entity (PE) would only procure quantities they required for the contracted periods at the rates approved by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) and its committees.

Ms Serame indicated that the tender for Procurement of Surgical and Medical Supplies-Dressings 3 awarded in December 2021 was done through a direct appointment of six companies that had been previously contracted for a similar tender, Monteco Solutions being one of them.

“The decision for direct appointment was because there was insufficient time for any other procurement method to be used as the required products were meant to address COVID-19 health-related issues,” she said.

The minister noted that the procuring entity was also in the process of formulating/preparing all its tender documents including for the dressings, to accommodate changes that had taken place in the market owing to COVID-19 supply chain disruptions.

As such, PPADB noted that the procuring entity was in consultation with stakeholders to incorporate new developments and that ITTs would only be finalised following conclusion of the said engagements, she said.

Furthermore, Ms Serame explained that the tender was awarded through direct appointment as the suppliers were already familiar with the products and therefore justified under the circumstances to appoint them for the short period requested.

Minister Serame indicated that this was done in line with the then PPADB Regulation 61 (1).

She said according to information extracted from the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA), Monteco Solutions was first registered on February 2017, and its director and shareholder had only ever been Ms Boitumelo Phadi Mmutle.

She said there were no records showing any changes of directorship and shareholding, adding that the company first registered for Codes with PPADB on June 2017.

Mr Saleshando had asked the minister to state the number of government tenders and corresponding values of tenders awarded to Monteco Solutions for 2014, 2018 and to date.

He also asked the minster to state the tenders that were directly allocation and reasons why such tenders were not subjected to a competitive bidding process.

He also asked the minister to state the directors and shareholders of the company for the corresponding periods. ENDS