Transparent and accountable procurement benefits government, the community, and businesses alike.

It inspires confidence in the governments use of public funds, drives investment, and lowers the cost to the community by allowing markets to work efficiently. Fair competition can spur the growth of the local economy and improve overall productivity. The Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF) is working with provincial governments to ensure transparent, participative, and accountable competitive bidding. It is automating processes and improving records management to help make procurement more efficient and responsive. PRMF procurement generally follows the provisions of the Government Procurement Reform Act (Republic Act 9184) and its implementing rules and regulations, including the bidding documents issued by the Government Procurement Policy Board. PRMF procurement is also guided by other stipulations made in the memorandum of subsidiary arrangement between the Australian and Philippine governments.

What Does PRMF Procurement Cover?

Over the five year program period, PRMF will invest about P4 billion in the purchase of local goods and services. The procurement will cover three main areas: Infrastructure projects, involving the rehabilitation and maintenance of gravel provincial roads; Goods, including equipment and vehicles; and Consulting services in road design, construction supervision, and capacity development or training, among other services.

Who Is Responsible for Procurement?

From year 1 up to the time that the province is assessed to have an acceptable procurement and financial management system, the facility managing contractor directly undertakes procurement. A bids and awards committee (BAC) manages the procurement activities, from advertisement to awarding of contracts and preparation of procurement monitoring report. The interagency character of the BAC helps in familiarizing the local government unit (LGU) representatives with PRMF procurement. Consulting services may require the participation of a suitable expert. For LGU managed procurement, the existing BAC of the LGU carries out all PRMF-related procurement.

How Is PRMF Procurement Done?

All phases of PRMF procurementplanning, advertisement, bid opening and bid evaluation, contract award, contract negotiation, and contract administration are done in collaboration with the national and provincial governments. Key features of the procurement are as follows: An approved procurement manual guiding all PRMF procurement; An approved budget ceiling advertisers for all bids; Standard procurement forms and contracts; Transparent and objective eligibility and bid evaluation criteria; Contract award to the lowest calculated and responsive bids in the procurement of goods and infrastructure projects, and to the highest rated and responsive bid, based on the technical and financial proposals in the procurement of consulting services; and Penalties and sanctions imposed on public officials, suppliers, and contractors who violate the procurement rules and regulations.

Development Initiatives
Use of the procurement systems of the Philippine government Strengthening of records management and complaints handling systems, cost databases, and electronic procurement systems such as the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) Building of provincial government capacity to take over full responsibility for procurement in the course of the program; Promotion of competitive local, national, and international bidding; and Support for the use of local skilled and unskilled labor in PRMF road rehabilitation and maintenance projects

About PRMF
PRMF is a five- year (20092014), Php4.3 billion (A$100-million) development initiative of the Governments of the Philippines and Australia. Through PRMF, the Australian Government helps provincial governments to put in place the governance systems that will enable them to maintain their roads over time, while rehabilitating and maintaining a core road network in up to 10 provinces in Mindanao and the Visayas. PRMF aims to boost the local economy by improving road transport so that more people will have better access to rehabilitated and maintained road networks, economic activity and public infrastructure and services that will improve their livelihoods. Better roads will also improve access to jobs, health services and essential social and educational facilities in rural and regional areas. FOR MORE INFORMATION See www.prmf.org.ph or contact
OIBONE C. ENOBIO Communications Officer Philippines Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF) Supported by Australian Aid Coffey International Development 19th Floor, Salcedo Towers, 169 H.V dela Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City, Philippines T (+63) (2) 753 1241 ext 108 F (+63) (2) 753 2150 M (+63) (917) 590 6941 Email: PRMF@ prmf.org.ph