Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has allegedly observed multiple technical and procedural problems in the government’s Electronic Public Procurement and Disposal System (EPADS) 2.0, which is complicating procurement instead of streamlining the process.
According to correspondence sent by PIMS to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), the problems affect bidder identification, technical evaluations, grievance proceedings, financial bid openings, comparative statements and other procurement functions.
One major issue concerns the prequalification of suppliers for bulk purchases of medicines. PIMS entered 472 drug and medicine items into EPADS 2.0, but the items are allegedly missing from the Standard Bidding Documents downloaded from the system.
PIMS has asked PPRA to resolve the alleged issue before the prequalification advertisement is published, as bidders may not be able to determine the full scope of the procurement.
The hospital has written to PPRA multiple times regarding problems encountered while using the new system.
PIMS has also pointed out that EPADS displays the names of individuals rather than participating firms when technical bids are opened. The institute has asked PPRA to ensure that the names of bidding companies are shown.
Another issue concerns the Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC). PIMS said technical bids and the Technical Evaluation Report are not visible to the GRC through the relevant Procurement Committee or Procuring Agency accounts.
The institute has questioned how the committee can properly decide procurement complaints without access to the underlying bid and evaluation records.
PIMS has also raised concerns about the system requiring procuring agencies to provide a tentative financial bid opening date when uploading or announcing the Technical Evaluation Report.
The system can also handle multiple tenders, but PIMS said it does not generate a technical comparative statement while preparing the Technical Evaluation Report. Several other supporting procurement reports are also reportedly unavailable through EPADS.
The hospital has further flagged issues in Request for Quotation (RFQ) and petty procurement. According to PIMS, the system allows winners to be declared for procurements exceeding the Rs500,000 threshold.
PIMS has also sought clarification on cases where a successful firm fails to endorse the Letter of Intent or does not supply the awarded goods or services.
The institute has separately reported difficulties in advertising equipment maintenance tenders that also include spare parts.
EPADS was launched in 2019 to digitize government procurement and improve transparency and efficiency. However, sources said the system continues to face operational problems despite years of development and reportedly more than Rs. 2 billion in World Bank-funded expenditure.
Sources alleged that weaknesses during the development and implementation of the system resulted in software problems that continue to affect government departments and the business community.
Sources further alleged that PPRA management has understated the system’s shortcomings in reports submitted to the federal government, despite concerns and directives from the Prime Minister’s Office.
Questions have also been raised over PPRA’s procurement reform efforts, particularly its continued hiring of consultants despite having previously engaged several consultants on reportedly lucrative contracts.
ProPakistani has reached out to PPRA for their official response on the matter. It will be added when received, but no response was received before publication.
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