In order to get a full sense of E-Procurement and related issues of the E-PAK Acquisition & Disposal System (EPADS), the Ministry of Housing and Works has arranged a conference on 26-10-2023 at 11:00 a.m in the committee room of the Ministry of Housing and Works, B-Block, Pak Secretariat Islamabad in collaboration with the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA). All heads of departments/organizations and nominated senior officers of this Ministry has attended the Conference. The list of participants is attached.
2. The Secretary, Housing and Works welcomed the participants and informed that the Secretaries Committee has been decided to conduct such trainings in all Ministries/Divisions/Departments. After introduction of all participants Secretary invited Executive Director, PPRA to start session formally. Executive Director, PPRA has informed that The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has decided to start
E-Procurement System at the federal level. PPRA has launched an E-Procurement System titled “E-PAK Acquisition & Disposal System (EPADS)”. Under this system, the Authority, all Procuring Agencies and bidders shall use EPADS starting from planning to close of contracts in case of public procurement of goods, works, services and commercial transactions and shall also cover all the aspects of regulatory framework..E-Pak Procurement Regulations, 2023 have been notified and are available on PPRA’s website.
3. Representative of PPRA further informed that E-procurement now have been introduced in 18 Ministries, 166 departments. Uptill now Rs. 10 billion expenditure has been occurred on it. Further 15 billion is expected in next financial year. 600 venders have been registered. Secretary, H&W asked some questions about duplication with provincial authorities and mandate of federal PRA in provinces. However, PPRA representative clarified that only necessary integration has been compiled and no interference into affairs of Provincial procurement will be occurred through this software. Representative of PPRA provide details of Configuration Management module (CMS) and other related details of software i.e physical, GIS, contact management, evidence, test mobile app and e-payment parameters of the software.
4. Participants shown keen interest in the training session and put various questions. Representative of PPRA have answers all questions and also appreciated interest of the participants.
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After introductory session Mr. Ijaz Haider Malik Project Manager, M/s Abacus Consulting, Islamabad started technical session and provide all details through power point presentations. He informed to the participants that the modern trends of E-Governance procurement (e-GP), the Authority has undertaken to develop a state-of the art web based e-Procurement system encompassing the total procurement life cycle starting from planning to closing out of the contract. The system name as "E-Pak Acquisition & Disposal System"(EPADS) which will be a centralized end-to-end procurement system developed for the whole country including the Federal as well as Provincial Regulatory Authorities (PPRAs). It is further stated that e-Procurement and electronic reverse auction can enhance the efficiency of procurement, eliminate bid rigging, strengthen transparency and achieve value for money (VFM).
Decisions
5 After detail session, following decisions were taken:-
i) Ministry Housing and Works will continue coordination with PPRA till completion of training process of all relevant officers/officials of this Ministry and attached organizations/departments
ii) All departments/organizations nominate officers/officials for this training.
6 The session ended with vote of thanks to and from the Chair.
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