Chapter Two: procurement process for water supply and sanitation projects
2.1 Introduction
Procurement is the acquisition of appropriate goods, works and/or services at the best possible total cost of ownership to meet the needs of a public entity in terms of quality, quantity, time and effective delivery.
The Public Procurement Act No. 7 of PPA 2011- Defines “Procurement” as “buying, purchasing, renting, leasing or otherwise acquiring any goods, works or services by a PE spending public funds on behalf of a ministry, department or regional administration of the Government or public body and includes all functions that pertain to the obtaining of any goods, works or services, including description of requirements, selection and invitation of tenderers, preparation, award and implementation of contracts.
As a function, Procurement should ensure acquisition of the right goods (equipment, materials, consumables), works (construction, repairs, rehabilitation), and services (individual consultants, consulting firms, training, workshops) required to satisfy certain needs at the right time, from the right contractor, in the right quantities, in the right quality and at the right price.
Public procurement enables Public Institutions to procure inputs which are vital for their operations and investments. The procured inputs can be in the form of physical infrastructure built or strengthened institutional and human capacities, both of which lay foundations for and promote national development.
In procurement terms and in line with the PPA 2011 and its Regulations, those inputs are generally grouped into four main categories as follows:
Works – which includes: (a) all works associated with the construction, reconstruction demolition, repair or renovation of a building, structure, road or airfield; and (b) any other civil works, such as site preparation, excavation, erection, building, installation of equipment or materials, decoration and finishing; (c) services which are tendered and contracted on the basis of performance of a measurable physical output such as transport of people or goods, drilling, mapping, photography or seismic investigations.
