Project evaluators trained to improve review of tenders

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) concluded a three-part series of workshops aimed at improving the evaluation of tenders.

A press statement from the IDB explained that the third and final workshop was held under the theme “Evaluating Financial Information in Bids”.

The IDB said the workshop focused on the evaluation of the financial information requested from the bidders, aimed at providing the tools for a better selection of financially sound contractors, suppliers and firms.

Using a ‘learning-by-doing’ methodology, the IDB said the workshop concentrated essentially on the interpretation of financial information, risks in financial evaluation, avoiding pitfalls through financial evaluation and best practices.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Country Representative of the IDB Sophie Makonnen, reminded the participants that “the IDB is here for support, we are here to work with you, and here to find solutions.”

Berkley Wickham, the Chairman of NPTAB in his message to the participants said that they must now seek to implement what they have learnt. The IDB said Wickham noted that “the evaluation step is the most critical step in most projects, it is not just about getting it done, rather it is about getting it done right.”

The statement said the NPTAB and the IDB Country Office in Guyana are committed to providing all necessary assistance to improve project execution and capacity to manage and implement all forecasted procurement activities.

As part of this general agenda, specific efforts are dedicated to increasing efficiency and performance at the evaluation stage of Bank-financed procurement processes via comprehensive training program workshops on how to evaluate tenders under IDB financed operations. The first workshop focused on the General Principles of Tender Evaluation and the second looked at “What happens when procurement goes wrong”.