The Botswana Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) has begun the pilot phase of their online tendering programme. Operating within the Botswana Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), the PPADB has a mandate to adjudicate and award tenders in order to ensure value for money and transparency.

The PPADB expects online bidding to provide both convenience and improved transparency in public procurement in Botswana. The system, an implementation of Nextenders next-generation system, will allow bidders to view Tender Notices, download tender documents and submit their bids online. Bidders will be able to access tender notices and documents free of charge, but will be required to pay before working on tender documents with a view to submitting tenders.

Pilot involving eight departments

The pilot phase will involve the Botswana Police Service, Botswana Defence Force, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Engineering and Building Services, Department of Roads, Department of Water Affairs, Central Medical Stores and their Ministerial Tender Committees.

Access to tenders and online submission

A number of tenders from the aforementioned departments are already live and visible at http://ipms.ppadb.co.bw. The system allows interested parties to download tender notices and documents for free. However, only registered contractors with the relevant codes and sub codes will be able to respond to the tender after the payment of the tender fees.

Tender Notices are also published in the Botswana Government Gazette but bidders are directed to submit their responses online. The payment of tender document fees can be made at Post Offices across Botswana with online payments to follow.