P100m Ear Tags tender marred by corruption allegations
Corruption allegations have surfaced over the tender for supply of cattle ear tags worth in excess of P100 million awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Sources suggest possible corruption that threatens not only the integrity of the ministry but has serious repercussions for the agricultural community, especially the farmers and the beef export industry. There are serious allegations that the tender tittled,“Supply And Delivery Of Cattle Combo Ear Tags For a Period of Three Years MOA POU/ DVS/ PT 11 2022/2023,” was corruptly awarded, with a significant bribe being paid to some officers in the evaluation team and the procurement oversight department. Despite multiple inquiries, the ministry is yet to provide adequate clarification on the allegations. A source at the ministry states, "The process was manipulated and a bribe of about P500,000 was given to officers in Evaluation Committee and the Procurement Oversight Unit.
The farmers and country's welfare hang in the balance." Amid the controversy, the urgent clarion call for a comprehensive and transparent investigation grows louder. Reports have emerged alleging that several companies were disqualified for baseless reasons during the bidding process.
This tactic, critics argue, was systematically employed to eliminate competition at the pre-financial stages, ensuring the corrupt company is awarded the tender at an exorbitant price. A source added that, “The crucial need for a forensic audit is urgent; the communications of the implicated officers, including emails, phone records, and other forms of correspondence, should be thoroughly scrutinised to unearth any potential malfeasance.
“A deep dive into their communications could unveil the intricacies of the alleged corruption, providing substantial evidence for legal proceedings and holding those involved accountable for their actions”.
The alleged intentional side-lining of competent companies for the tender process is a glaring affront to fairness and equality, delivering a significant blow to the economic stability of the farming community.
Sources have indicated that a thorough and meticulous forensic audit and investigation into the dealings and communications of the involved officials will not only unravel the truth but also pave the way for the restoration of integrity and transparency in the tendering process.
By ensuring these companies do not compete at the financial stage, the tainted process has allegedly led to a situation where the tender is awarded to a bidder that not only offers the ear tags at a higher price but may potentially compromise on quality.
Further adding to the controversy, there are claims that a manufacturer's representative was involved in drafting the tender specifications and they had to be changed multiple times during the floating of the tender due to protests from bidders.
The corrupt manufacturer’s representative illicitly manipulated the tender specifications to their favour. This potential unfair advantage has raised eyebrows and suspicions of foul play within the Ministry's tender process.
The involvement of a manufacturer in drafting tender specifications starkly highlights a profound conflict of interest and is a glaring example of corruption in procurement processes.
This unethical practice, according to sources seriously undermines the principles of fairness, competition, and transparency that are crucial to public tender processes.
“By having a hand in writing the specifications for the cattle ear tags, the manufacturer's representative was in a position to illicitly tailor the requirements to their own products, unfairly edging out competitors and effectively manipulating the entire tendering process.
“This unscrupulous involvement muddies the waters of the tendering process, making it nearly impossible for other bidders to compete fairly for the award,” an officer in the ministry who sits in the evaluation team, said.
The repeated changes in the tender specifications during the floating of the tender, as a result of protests from other bidders, further underscore the significant irregularities and the extent of the unfair advantage gained through the involvement of the manufacturer's representative.
Such manipulative actions not only compromise the integrity of the tendering process but also translate to a potential economic burden on the farmers and the entire agricultural community.
“It raises costs, stifles competition, and ultimately leads to the awarding of the tender to potentially unsuitable or overpriced service providers.
“It is imperative for the authorities to rectify this corruption by ensuring a transparent, fair, and competitive tendering process, devoid of undue influence from bidders, to safeguard the interests of the public and uphold the principles of integrity and accountability in public procurement processes.”
The corruption in the tender is likely to have devastating effects on farmers who are already grappling with the issue of lost or stolen cattle due to a lack of ear tags. The alleged corruption in awarding the tender for ear tags exacerbates the problem, leaving farmers vulnerable and in despair. “Corruption in the tendering process undermines the fundamental principles of fairness and equality, and in the context of farming, it can have detrimental effects on the agricultural community.
“When corruption infiltrates the tendering process, farmers are the ones who bear the brunt of the impact. They are likely to end up with substandard products or services, as the main focus shifts from quality to cutting corners and maximising the illicit gains of the corrupt individuals involved.
“This situation leaves farmers paying more for less, receiving products or services that do not meet the necessary standards and specifications. The ripple effect of this issue goes beyond the immediate financial strain, impacting the overall yield and quality of the farmers' produce, and by extension, affecting the larger community that relies on agriculture for sustenance and economic stability.
“Tackling corruption in the tendering process is essential to ensure that farmers receive value for their money, obtaining quality products and services at competitive prices, which in turn contributes to the advancement and sustainability of the agricultural sector," the source added. Moreover, the alleged corruption puts the beef export industry in jeopardy. Non-tagged cows cannot be slaughtered and exported, a significant blow to the country's beef exports, causing not only economic loss but also potentially damaging the country's reputation in the international market.
Ministry of Agriculture Chief Public Relations Officer, Moreri Moesi said there was evaluation criteria set, which was followed and the intent to award is based on the criteria, adding that the Ministry does not have any allegations of corruption on this tender.
He said the Ministry is not aware of allegations of the tender being leaked to one of the manufacturer’s representatives. The evaluation was done following the evaluation criterion set in the Invitation To Tender (ITT).
He stated that there were external overseers or auditors present during the evaluation process to ensure impartiality. Moesi confirmed that there are documented complaints and concerns from the companies that were disqualified during the tender process.
“As per the procedure there are processes of reviewing complaints and it is ongoing. Before the evaluation commences, the ad-hoc evaluation team members declare - in a declaration form and sign the conflicts of interest to ensure integrity.
“Tenders are evaluated by ad-hoc evaluation teams and as stated above they declare their conflicts of interest”, Moesi said in response to this publication’s enquiries.
Moesi revealed that the tender is for three years and with the direction the Ministry wants to take, that is increasing of cattle herd “we cannot anticipate the consumption rate, hence the tender did not have fixed quantities for the duration of the tender.”