Workshop Builds Procurement Expertise

In a three-day workshop last week, senior civil servants learned how proper procurement procedures and practices can improve government project outcomes.

Some 45 core government participants including Chief Officers, department heads, project managers and senior finance officers attended the workshop from 15-17 June at the Government Administration Building ahead of the proposed new Procurement Law and regulations.

International public procurement expert Mr. Paul Emmanuelli conducted the workshop that was organised jointly by the Central Procurement Office with the Civil Service College and the Deputy Governor’s Office, Procurement Office Director Craig Milley outlined.

The workshop is the first of several more that are planned for this year. It aimed to help government personnel achieve successful project outcomes by meeting operational needs, on time, within budget and by following the process rules.

Mr. Emmanuelli provided practical guidance on how to design and draft simplified yet clear bid documents. This in turn will help agencies address the concerns raised in several Auditor General’s reports and better demonstrate value for money, Mr. Milley explained.

In addition to a presentation on the proposed new Procurement Law and regulations, the participants also heard about the importance and need for such workshops from the Deputy Governor, Hon. Franz Manderson, and Financial Secretary, Mr. Kenneth Jefferson, during the formal opening.

The attendees also learnt about ethics, transparency, project management and governance and the legal foundations of tendering to better manage procurement risks. Mr. Milley commented, “By the end of 2016, we hope that nearly 200 public servants will have gone through this initial programme which is the foundation for a multi-layered training initiative.”

(GIS)

Photo captions Photos by Bina Mani, GIS:

Procurement expert Paul Emmanuelli advises about procurement procedures at a civil servants workshop at the Government Administration Building on Thursday, 16 June 2016.

Some of the attendees at the procurement workshop

Director of Central Procurement Office Craig Milley outlines the afternoon’s topic at the workshop.