Inter-agency body simplifies procurement process amid COVID-19

The inter-agency Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) has simplified the government procurement process in light of the state of calamity due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread.

The GPPB issued Resolution No. 003-2020 dated March 23, which provides guidelines for all procuring entities (PEs) in the conduct of their procurement projects.

The guidelines allow PEs to apply the following rules on Negotiated Procurement under Emergency Cases during a state of calamity:

• The Procurement projects covered under Negotiated Procurement (Emergency Cases) are goods, civil work projects as well as lease of real property or venues such as those used as quarantine centers, evacuation sites, medical relief and aid distribution locations, among others.

• The Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) need not be the one to recommend the revision of the Annual Procurement Plan (APP). 

• End-user units or any other appropriate procuring units can also directly recommend revisions to the Head of the Procuring Entity (HoPE) subject to the availability of funds. Moreover, a separate written confirmation requirement from the HoPE is not needed prior to the approval of the contract.

• The HoPE may also authorize the End-user unit or any other appropriate procuring units to directly negotiate with a legally, technically, and financially capable supplier, contractor, or consultant. Hence, the BAC need not be the one to negotiate or procure.

• The HoPE is allowed to delegate the awarding of contracts to any official of the Procurement Entity, except to those where there exists conflict of interest. 

The approval of the revised APP shall be due to the HoPE which must relate the projects to be procured to the emergency situation it is intending to address, such as provision of food packs, lease of venue or real property for use as quarantine facilities, purchase of COVID-19 testing kits, among others; and The HoPE shall validate from the appropriate office that there are funds in the budget to cover the Procurement Project.

Further, the submission of a recently expired Mayor’s or Business Permit and an Official Receipt as proof of application and payment for the renewal of the permit as well as an unnotarized Omnibus Sworn Statement (OSS) will suffice subject to submission of the Mayor’s Permit and notarized OSS after award of contract. 

The GPPB is composed of the secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, as chairman, the director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority, as alternate chairman, with the secretaries of the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Finance, Trade and Industry, Health, National Defense, Education, Interior and Local Government, Science and Technology, Transportation and Communications, Energy, a representative from the private sector to be appointed by the President as members.

The GPPB may invite a representative from the Commission on Audit to serve as a resource person.

Late Monday, Congress passed a bill that allowing President Rodrigo Duterte to realign the 2020 budget and direct operations of hospitals and medical facilities to address the health crisis. —Ted Cordero/KG, GMA News