Monitoring status of public procurement by IMED and compliance issues of PPA-2006 and PPR-2008

Abstract

Transparency, efficiency, accountability, competitiveness, equitable treatment and free & fair competition are essential to be ensured in the procurement using public funds. In Bangladesh, these could not be ensured earlier due to a lack of proper rules and regulation. To streamline the public procurement activities, the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has enacted Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2006 and thereafter issued Public Procurement Rules (PPR) 2008. Since then government agencies are bound to abide by the Act and Rules very strictly in their procurement activities. The Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) is continually monitoring the compliance of PPA 2006 and PPR 2008 by the target agencies in the light of 45 predetermined Key Performance Indicators (KPI) on limited or some selected projects. IMED is the apex body of Monitoring and Evaluation of Government Development Project. It is generally said that a total of 80% of ADP allocation are spent for procurement of goods, works and services which are administered by PPR 2008. Thus, it seems to be more focus on public procurement KPI’s during monitoring of development projects by IMED. The research has been designed under monitoring and evaluation report prepared by IMED. In that report public procurement monitoring KPI’s are used or not; and if not, then what is the causes behind. The main objectives of this study is to find out the monitoring Status of Public Procurement on the compliance issues PPA-2006 and PPR-2008 by IMED that will help to ensure transparent and efficient procurement of public sector project. The related literatures and reports, particularly from IMED, have been thoroughly reviewed before conducting the main research work. A questionnaire survey and key informant interviews have been conducted to get the perceptions of IMED officers. The majors findings of this study is that monitoring of public procurement by IMED and Compliance Issues of PPA-2006 and PPR-2008 during monitoring and evaluation of development projects is very poor. Only 18% monitoring/evaluation report focused on public procurement monitoring KPI’s. That is 82 percent projects are not yet monitored or evaluated using public procurement monitoring KPI’s. On the other hand major development ministry/Divisions projects are not yet monitor or evaluate focusing public procurement monitoring KPI’s. Though public procurement monitoring is very important during monitoring of any development projects but it is still neglected or not yet focused. The major causes of that IMED officials are not aware of the importance monitoring KPI’s. Also IMED officials have no sufficient training and practical knowledge on PPA-2006 and PPR-2008 for their monitoring purpose. So, IMED need to identify that what area should be more emphasized to ensure effective monitoring of development projects.