A review panel has set aside a N$3.5 billion catering tender after numerous inconsistencies on the part of the Bids Evaluation Committee were unearthed.
The tender is meant to procure and supply food stuffs to government school hotels across the country.
The tender which was won by nine companies caused chaos among 11 other catering companies that have disputed the manner in which it was handled by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia.
The Central Procurement Board of Namibia has been instructed to re-evaluate the bids that contained Social Security Commission Good Standing Certificates.
The board has been instructed that the re-evaluation of the bids be done strictly in accordance with criteria and methodology set out in the Instructions to Bidders to the extent that they are consistent with the provisions of the law.
The Procurement board will also have to seek another extension with bidders.
This is contained in a document by the review panel led by chairperson Browny Mutrifa.
The case was heard from the 11th to the 12th of March with the review panel having made a decision on the 18th of March 2021.
All in all, the tender attracted 79 companies while nine won the tender to the disgruntlement of 11 other companies.
These 11 companies brought applications for review into possible irregularities in the awarding of the tender and consequently asked for the tender to be re-done.
These are; Kunene Catering Services, Unifoods Catering Services, Uptown Windhoek Investments, Camelot Investment Group, Patriot General Services, Pamo Trading Enterprises, Pisces Investment Holding Number Thirty-Two, Circle Hospitality Services, Atlantic Catering Solutions, Free Namibia caterers and Seal Caterers.
