CCA Capacitates Procuring Officers to Detect Bid-Rigging

The CCA today (11^th July 2024) presented on the topic of bid-rigging at a capacity building workshop for procuring officers in the Ministry of State President in Jwaneng. Bid-rigging takes place when bidders collude or reach an agreement to collude by keeping the bid price at a pre-determined level.

The bidders or tenderers agree among themselves to eliminate competition in the procurement process, thereby denying the public a fair price. Bid-rigging is an anti-competitive conduct that inevitably leads to higher costs as prices are artificially inflated.

In Botswana, public procurement is a major part of facilitating development and commerce. Companies get most of their business by offering their goods and services to the government of Botswana through the various ministries, government departments and parastatals.

Public tenders are therefore a critical part in the country’s economy hence the need to capacitate public officers to detect bidding patterns that suggest the possibility of bid-rigging.