A tender worth R1.2 billion, designated for the maintenance and expansion of Local Area Network (LAN) services in Western Cape schools, faces uncertainty following a forensic investigation. The probe, carried out by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Inc., has exposed ‘significant irregularities’ that could potentially derail the project.
According to IOL, the State Information Technology Agency (Sita) created the tender to improve the LAN infrastructure within the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) schools. With the previous contract nearing its completion in November 2021, this tender aimed to not only maintain but also advance the existing network facilities.
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According to a 171-page report acquired by IOL, the investigation revealed several issues:
- Alternative solutions and pricing options: The tender did not clearly permit multiple pricing proposals, resulting in an unfair advantage for certain bidders.
- Local Content Requirements: Compliance issues arose as only three of the eleven bidders met local content stipulations.
- Disqualification of dimension data: Dimension Data, a contender, was disqualified over a technicality, which the investigation found to be unjust.
- Governance and notification issues: Sita’s governance processes were called into question, particularly regarding the voting methods and premature notification of the award.
The report calls for a re-evaluation of the tender, highlighting the need for precise tender drafting, proper adjudication adherence, transparent local content evaluation and accountability within Sita’s board and procurement processes.
In light of this, Sita spokesperson Tlali Tlali acknowledged the need for policy and procedure improvements. Sita reportedly plans to refine its tender instructions and align its governance policies with applicable legislation. An internal review is underway to address the premature award communication issue.
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Responding to IOL, WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond stated that the department had not officially received the report.
‘The WCED had not yet received the report through official channels. The report is being verified. Once confirmed, the WCED will study the contents thereof,’ said Hammond.
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