ZPPA Slaps One Year Suspension on Multiplex Contractors and Suppliers
Zambia Procurement Authority (ZPPA) has suspended Multiplex Contractors and Suppliers from participating in public procurement for a period of one-year, effective 3rd October, 2024, following a recommendation from National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) against the bidder.
Authority Assistant Public Relations Officer, Lucy Lumbe said in a statement that the suspension does not in any way limit Multiplex Contractors and Supplies Limited from performing outstanding contracts that were entered into before 3rd October, 2024.
Ms. Lumbe revealed that the bidder submitted a NAPSA Compliance Certificate that was not genuine in a tender for the provision of external paint works and the renovation of three cottages and a clinic at Mosi-oa-Tunya House in Livingstone.
“Brief facts of the matter are that on 1st March, 2024, NAPSA floated a tender for the provision of external paint works and the renovation of three cottages and a clinic at Mosi-oa-Tunya House in Livingstone on the electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System. The initial tender closing date was 5th April, 2024 at 10: 30 hours and the closing date was later extended to Friday, 12th April, 2024 through Addendum No. 1 dated 5th March, 2024. At the time of tender closing on 12th April 2024, 16 bids were received.
“During the evaluation process, it was established that Multiplex Contractors and Supplies Limited submitted a NAPSA Compliance Certificate that was not genuine. Thereafter, NAPSA reported the matter to ZPPA who instituted an investigation,” Ms. Lumbe stated.
She disclosed that the investigation revealed that NAPSA did not issue the compliance certificate to Multiplex Contractors and Supplies Limited because the expiry date indicated on the document was 30th June, 2024 instead of 31st March, 2024.
“Therefore, the NAPSA Compliance Certificate submitted by the bidder in the aforementioned tender was not genuine.”
“This is contrary to section 96(b) of the Public Procurement Act No.8 of 2020 as amended by the Public Procurement (Amendment) Act No.17 of 2023 which provides that: A bidder or supplier shall be suspended from participating in public procurement where the bidder or supplier has – (b) provided false information in a bid or any other document submitted to a procuring entity in connection with a procurement process or contract,” she said.
She advised procuring entities to enforce the suspension by not awarding Contractors, sell, or issue solicitation documents or invite bids from Multiplex Contractors and Suppliers with effect from 3rd October, 2024.
“ZPPA has further advised all procuring entities not to enter into any other contracts with or communicate with the supplier except in respect of existing contracts placed prior to this suspension,” Ms. Lumbe added.
