Question NW1616 to the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
30 August 2023 - NW1616
Yako, Ms Y to ask the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
In light of how his department outsources most of its work to outside bidders, which measures has he taken to build state capacity and a register of credible suppliers?
Reply:
The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure
State Capacity
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has a two-prong approach to executing the maintenance functions. It is a blend of Out-sourced and In-sourced Services. On the other hand, the In-sourced services, are executed internally through utilisation of the Workshops in our various Regional office, whilst on the other hand, the Department acquires the talent of young graduates and tradespeople and facilitates with the on-job training. Through this, the Department also assists in market absorption within the spheres of government with overflow branching-off to the private sector. The artisan trainees are paired with the appointed service providers to transfer the skills towards obtaining the trade certificates.
Furthermore, the continuous improvement strategy in Facilities Maintenance is inter alia to improve the up-keeping of assets throughout their life cycle through the increased use of the In-Sourced Workshops. The aim of the initiative is to expand on the Workshops to deliver in-sourced facilities management services, efficiently and cost-effectively in line with the FM Strategy. This will in turn build the maintenance capacity within the department.
Credible Suppliers
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure sources the suppliers for its various undertakings within the confines of current prescripts such as the National Treasury Central Supplier Database (CSD) and including the provisions of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) where applicable.
CSD is a repository of service providers that wish to participate in the goods and services rendered in government. The department has committed to enhancing the levels of screening of the service providers obtained from the CSD to ensure the department sources credible suppliers. Quotation-based procurement does not ideally facilitate for the adequate screening, hence a move toward tendering process where possible.
The tendering process allows for appropriate screening of the competencies of potential service providers. This is through an established procurement process that allows for the establishment of competent committees such as the Bid Specification Committee (BSC) and Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) and the Bid Adjudication Committee (BAC).