WASA clears the air on procurement practices

We refer to your editorial dated Sunday, September 9, 2012 and feel it is necessary to clarify certain misrepresentations in relation to the Authority’s breakfast presentation shared with members of the Energy Chamber on Thursday, September 6, 2012. These sessions are simply information sharing meetings with the objective of encouraging open and fair competition; enhanced transparency, accountability and value for money in the Authority’s procurement process and practices.

The presentation addressed WASA’s procurement process including e-procurement; payment process and efforts to improve same; projects where there may be available business opportunities; and efforts at transforming the organisation. This initiative by the Authority is intended to achieve among other things:
• The building of relationships with contractors/suppliers/consultants
• The provision of information about WASA’s tendering process to encourage greater participation in tendering for projects
• Increasing the pool of available contractors/suppliers/consultants
• The achievement of greater competitiveness in the tendering process
• The encouragement of increased private sector involvement in implementing WASA’s capital projects.

Two (2) sessions have been held thus far, one with the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the second as reported with the Energy Chamber in South Trinidad. These sessions in no way formed part of any tendering process and did not offer any bids, awards or contract to participants.

It should be noted, that in the procurement of goods and services, the Authority follows its approved Tenders Rule which complies with industry Best Practice. We trust that the aforementioned would have addressed the apparent lack of understanding that may exist with respect to the breakfast sessions held with the Chambers and with regard to the rules and procedures for doing business with WASA.

Additionally, and for ease of reference we refer to article “WASA to spend $5.5 billion in 5 years” published on Pg 6 of the Business Guardian dated August 9, 2012.

Daniel Plenty
Manager, Corporate Communications