Code of Practice To Be Implemented On July 2

Government will implement the Code of Practice for Project Management and Procurement on July 2, 2018, Minister of Government Reform Lovitta Foggo said in the House of Assembly.

The Minister said, “The Code sets out the requirements and procedures for the procurement of goods and services for the Government that must be met and followed by all public officers. By complying with the Code, public officers will ensure that the Government’s procurement activities achieve the best value for money while being fair, ethical and transparent.

“The Code is reflective of the Government’s commitment to improve good governance standards and to use its purchasing power to create opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups.

“This is a notable achievement. This Government promised the completion of the Code and we have now delivered. We are committed to good governance and good government.

“We have not simply delivered the instructions in printed form but we have spent the past several months ensuring that public officers are prepared. We have also spent time educating and making potential vendors aware of how they too can participate.”

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

Good morning, Mr. Speaker.

I rise to inform the Members of this Honourable House and the people of Bermuda that the Government will implement the Code of Practice for Project Management and Procurement on July 2, 2018.

Mr. Speaker, the Code sets out the requirements and procedures for the procurement of goods and services for the Government that must be met and followed by all public officers. By complying with the Code, public officers will ensure that the Government’s procurement activities achieve the best value for money while being fair, ethical and transparent.

Mr. Speaker, the Code is reflective of the Government’s commitment to improve good governance standards and to use its purchasing power to create opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups.

Mr. Speaker, this is a notable achievement. This Government promised the completion of the Code and we have now delivered. We are committed to good governance and good government.

Mr. Speaker, through the implementation of the Code we are effectively raising the standards of governance in this country as that is what the voters expect.

This Mr. Speaker, is a true example of accountability. Others promised, but we have delivered.

We have not simply delivered the instructions in printed form but we have spent the past several months ensuring that public officers are prepared. We have also spent time educating and making potential vendors aware of how they too can participate.

Mr. Speaker, the Office of Project Management and Procurement conducted training sessions on the Code for Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments, Comptrollers, and the Accountant General’s Department during the period November 2017 to March 2018.

Thereafter Heads of Departments were required to ensure the distribution of the Code to all Officers who are engaged in the purchasing process within their respective Departments.

These and other public officers with responsibility for engaging in purchasing and tendering activities will receive instruction on the Code’s requirements and procedures as part of a standard training programme. Staff members of quangos and other public authorities will also be trained on the procedures and requirements of the Code in the coming weeks.

Mr. Speaker, information sessions were conducted for the benefit of contractors, vendors, and suppliers that are associated with the Chamber of Commerce, the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, and the Construction Association of Bermuda on January 31, 2018, March 19, 2018, and April 4, 2018, respectively.

Mr. Speaker, the training and information sessions have yielded valuable and constructive feedback. We have been reminded of the importance of ensuring that the Government’s procurement processes are as efficient as possible, and that its documentation is readily accessible by all prospective suppliers. We have been encouraged to be more flexible in providing for advance, stage or interim payments, and to reduce the time required to process payments made to small business owners.

Mr. Speaker, suppliers welcomed the potential opportunity to participate in consortia to collectively deliver larger scale Government projects. The implementation of framework agreements and approved contractors lists were viewed as providing for participation of a broader pool of suppliers in contracting opportunities on a more efficient basis.

Mr. Speaker, the Code will replace section 8 of the Financial Instructions, which sets out the procedures that public officers must follow to purchase goods and services for the Government. The Accountant General will amend the Financial Instructions to reflect this change.

Public officers must continue to comply with the Financial Instructions to ensure that financial transactions are properly recorded and controlled on a consistent basis. The Financial Instructions will continue to form the minimum standard for financial controls in every department, ministry, or quango with additional specific procedures formulated at the departmental level or tailored to the respective needs of the quango.

Mr. Speaker, the procedures for the purchase of goods and services are contained in the Code to ensure that capital projects and significant expenditures for the purchase of goods and services have appropriate governance and control frameworks in place.

Following the implementation of the Code, requests for sole source waivers will be considered by the Director of the Office of Project Management and Procurement. The Accountant General will no longer be responsible for granting sole source waivers.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to extend my appreciation to the Office of Project Management and Procurement for work they have undertaken to develop and implement the Code of Practice for Project Management and Procurement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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