Dr. Ndemo, Thank you for the detailed explanation. Two comments, first to the media for following up and asking the right questions. I think it is great first that the cable is being noticed in the media and I hope they will continue to give it due coverage not just because of the cash $$$ involved but also the significant strategic position the cable holds for us as Kenyan. So Wakabi and others, please continue to ensure full transparence is maintained. Second comment; Alongside that and at the risk of creating more questions than answers. China and Dubai for example were able to grow as fast as they did as their decision making and implementation process were not subject to lengthy procurement processes (The Democracy we enjoy). They basically went ahead and build. ICT is such that we need to move at a very fast pace and to remain competitive. I am certain that is why there are the three procurement options you outlined below by the PS. With the kind of competition in this space, both internal and external, we must ensure as much as possible not to delay the implementation of the cable projects. Finally Bwana PS, I am sure like many others in the list your last comment created some excitements and I would want more details on the progress so far. Three months to connection would be a great day for us.
My friend we need a serious talk. Seriously, if I had my way, I would give the entire works as a tunkey project. By now we could be at least three months to getting connected.
Where are we in reality.v -- Joseph Mucheru Executive Director mucheru@wananchi.com
From: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Reply-To: Kenya ICT Action Network - KICTANet <kictanet@kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2007 09:09:46 +0300 (EAT) To: <mucheru@wananchi.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] [Fwd: [Fibre-for-africa] Kenya's fibre optic cable project queried]
Dear Wakabi, Thank you for raising the question on whether the Ministry ignored best practices in procurement. The answer is No. There are three approved methods of procurement, that is, open tender, selective tender and single sourcing. Open tender you have got to adverise and any interested party can bid to supply service. It is a lengthy procedure (takes a minimum 45 days). It is the most competitive of all. Logically it applies to goods that can be obtained from many sources.
Selective tendering however, is mostly applied to a sitiation where the popolation of the suppliers is limited as in Marine works. There are two companies, that is, Tyco and Alcatel that have the necesary experience to do such jobs. There are three other companies, that is, NEC, Fujistu and Global Marine/Huaweii that are usually subcontracted by the larger two. They have limited experience compared to the big two. Therefore it would have been absolutely non sense and wasteful to advertise for the the works in the local papers.
Single sourcing is used where there is only one supplier of service/good or where there is an emergence. The committee which is tasked with the Teams project comprising the Investment Secretary, Director, Directorate of Procurement, MD Telkom, Solocitor General, and CCK Director General agreed to fast track the project by seeking authority from Treasury to procure Detailed Feasibility Study (DFS), Detailed Technical Study (DTS), and The Mirine Survey (MS)using the later methods and subjected Financial Arrager (FA) tender to an open tender.
If you look at the overall project, the four services DFS, DTS, MS and FA are crucial to determining the time the project takes. Three of these projects DFS, DTS, and FA are complete and once the MS is complete, it would enable us to procure the supply contract with sufficient knowledge. Secoindly, whoever is awarded the contract, will actually immediately procure the material since all the information is available.
The argument that the MS is given along with the Suply contract does not hold water since there are many cable networks that have used the model. EASSY for example will not know the material requirement until the MS is complete. In technical terms they are several months behind Teams.
You must understand that there are several interested parties, some who want to make quick bucks. Ask yourself: what is it they are seeing that our people can't see? Consider Germany cable operators bagging in more that 6 billion euros in the last world cup in one month. My friend we need a serious talk. Seriously, if I had my way, I would give the entire works as a tunkey project. By now we could be at least three months to getting connected.
Regards
Bitange Ndemo.
---------------------------------------------- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by Jambo MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. --------------------------------------------- "easy access to the world"
_______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@kictanet.or.ke http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
Please unsubscribe or change your options at http://kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/mucheru%40wananchi.com