Question NW576 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
13 March 2023 - NW576
Yabo, Mr BS to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
What interventions is his department implementing to ensure that its entities can be competitive in the market under the current procurement legislation which hinders state-owned entities from providing services to other state-owned organs due to market competitiveness which reduces the contribution of the entities reporting to him?
Reply:
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The Public Entities of the department aligned their procurement policies to Regulations 2022 of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, 2000 (Act 5 of 2000) with the focal amendment of implementing specific goals in accordance with the White Paper on Reconstruction and Development, 15 November 1994. The advantage of the changes in legislation is that other than price for goods/services, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment is not the only other criterium of scoring point in the final award of tenders. Instead, Public Entities are now permitted to identify points for specific goals to be incorporated into their tender that contributes to the final points scored together with points for price. It implies, Public Entities can select target markets based on predetermined specific goals. Though Public Entities of the department do not procure from or for other state-owned entities, they are however able to render much more competitive and focused services by now being able to select specific goals in the procurement processes.