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Tenderers at a seminar in Sylhet on May 20, 2017 demanded that bank reduce service charges taken from them for receiving payments in e-GP system.
They said that various rates of service charges at banks are still high and valuation of tender documents in e-GP system is inconsistent.
The observations were made at a seminar titled “Role of Banks in e-GP” at DC Office Conference Room in Sylhet on May 20, 2017.
The Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) of Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) organized the seminar as part of its programmes to raise awareness of stakeholders about operation of e-GP.
CPTU is implementing e-GP under PPRP-II with support from World Bank. It has already established a high-powered data centre on its premises and at BCC to enhance capacity of the system.
On May 20, 2017, about 85 participants from procuring entities, tenderers, banks and media attended the seminar.
Secretary of IMED Md Mofizul Islam was present in the seminar as the chief guest while Director General of CPTU and Additional Secretary Md Faruque Hossain, Additional Commissioner of Sylhet Division Mrinal Kanti Dev, Additional Chief Engineer Md Ismail Hosssain attended it as special guests. DD, LG and DC in charge of Sylhet Devjit Singha chaired the seminar.
CPTU conducted four such seminars in Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet with banks and other stakeholders.
IMED Secretary said, “Our resources are limited and we must ensure proper utilization of people’s money in public procurement. We have about 1300 projects in ADP. If we can implement these properly our economic progress will increase. Our past experience about tender is not good. So we have transformed it into digital technology where banks have a big role.”
He said, “We expect you will tell us your problems,” he told the bankers. “We will take note of those and act so that problems regarding e-GP operation are resolved and we can have a smooth system.” The Secretary sought cooperation of all banks in this regard.
The issues raised by bankers, tenderers and procuring entities include problems relating to browser version, down loading pdf version, mention of BG validity, various rates of service charges and value of tender documents, delay in release of PS/TS , problems in releasing so many POs and PS/TS through separate entries with tender IDs etc.
Director General of CPTU gave clarifications about all queries and he explained that the operation of e-GP requires both legal and IT knowledge.
He said, “We have 24-hour help desk and all can seek help about e-GP from there.” The DG, CPTU requested all PEs not to set tender submission deadline at 10am as banks do not open by that time. He urged tenderers not to wait until the last day for submission of tenders. |
