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[h=2]NPark Suspended Officer had FB linked with the vendor BikeHop[/h]
MND details discrepancies in Brompton bicycle purchase
Posted: 25 July 2012 2350 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of National Development (MND) said its internal audit team interviewed all officers involved in the procurement process of the Brompton bicycles from vendor BikeHop.
MND said this in response to queries from Channel NewsAsia on Wednesday.
The ministry discovered links between the suspended officer, Bernard Lim, and an owner of BikeHop in Bernard's Facebook account.
MND said the online postings reinforced what NParks had discovered.
=> You believe?
Subsequently the audit uncovered certain significant discrepancies, which led to the decision to suspend Bernard and report the matter to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) for investigation.
=> Talk cock! It was not too long ago some Msian Cow and his 154th mouthpiece were defending the deal to death!
MND said it was working with NParks and other agencies to consider practical ways to strengthen its procurement controls for tenders and quotations, especially where single bids are involved.
Appropriate approving authorities and proper justifications will be required to ensure that single bid awards are reasonable and justifiable.
MND is also reviewing, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, other aspects of the procurement system like the tender/quotation duration.
The ministry was also working towards an internal procurement guide to advise officers in their purchases.
MND said it would continue efforts to ensure prudence in the use of public funds.
It was also mindful that government purchases are justified on a cost-benefit basis, the procurement process open and fair, and decisions satisfy the criteria of value for money.
MND's full response to the queries from Channel NewsAsia:
Q. What kind of discrepancies were found in the procurement process?
A. MND's internal audit team was tasked by Minister Khaw to work with NParks to examine the purchase of the bicycles and review the procurement system as a whole after a newspaper article was published on this on 22 June.
As part of the audit, all officers involved in the procurement were interviewed. On 10 Jul, NParks officers discovered links between Bernard Lim and an owner of BikeHop in Bernard's Facebook account. However Bernard's FB account was also found to have nearly 300 other "friends" including other bike suppliers and vendors as well as many other biking enthusiasts. Bernard was a known biking enthusiast. On-line postings reinforced what NParks had discovered and the continuing inquiries and audit subsequently uncovered certain significant discrepancies which led to the decision to suspend Bernard from duty and to report the matter to the CPIB for investigation
=> The netizen's CSI report came out in fuckwarezone on 14 Jul 12 (http://forums.fuckwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/csi-attempt-nparks-brompton-procurement-process-ended-up-dodgy-winning-bidder-3814897.html) and now, the FAP is saying that they discovered the links on 10 Jul 12. So why didn't they announce them earlier? If not for the netizen's discovery, would they have tried to cover it up?
As internal investigations were ongoing last week, NParks was unable to comment on this issue earlier.
Q. In light of this case, have there been changes in SOP in NParks in dealing with purchases? What kind of specific guidelines do officers now have to follow? We do understand that NParks is looking at having longer quotation period, and recalling the quotation when only one vendor made a bid. What other checks and balances are being put in place?
A. MND is working with NParks as well as our other MND agencies to consider practical ways to strengthen our procurement controls for tenders and quotations, especially where single bids are involved. Appropriate approving authorities and proper justifications will be required to ensure that single bid awards are reasonable and justifiable. We are also reviewing, in consultation with MOF, other aspects of our procurement system like the tender/quotation duration and are working towards an internal procurement guide to advise and guide our officers in their purchases.
We will continue our efforts to ensure that prudence is always exercised in the use of public funds. We are mindful that government purchases need to be justified on a cost-benefit basis, that the procurement process must be open and fair, and that decisions taken satisfy the criteria of value for money.
Q. Does MND think the Brompton bikes are really value for money? Could the same objectives be met with cheaper and less branded bikes?
A. The purchase of high specifications foldable bikes was made on the basis of an open Gebiz tender where a single bid was received. The vendor in question bid to supply foldable bikes which met all specifications and which was within the budget. The bikes the vendor was offering was Brompton. There was no other bidder offering other bikes. If there were, these bids and the bikes offered would have been evaluated accordingly against the specifications and comparative costs, regardless whether they were "branded" or not.
=> Was the question answered? NO!
- CNA/wm
Posted: 25 July 2012 2350 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of National Development (MND) said its internal audit team interviewed all officers involved in the procurement process of the Brompton bicycles from vendor BikeHop.
MND said this in response to queries from Channel NewsAsia on Wednesday.
The ministry discovered links between the suspended officer, Bernard Lim, and an owner of BikeHop in Bernard's Facebook account.
MND said the online postings reinforced what NParks had discovered.
=> You believe?
Subsequently the audit uncovered certain significant discrepancies, which led to the decision to suspend Bernard and report the matter to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) for investigation.
=> Talk cock! It was not too long ago some Msian Cow and his 154th mouthpiece were defending the deal to death!
MND said it was working with NParks and other agencies to consider practical ways to strengthen its procurement controls for tenders and quotations, especially where single bids are involved.
Appropriate approving authorities and proper justifications will be required to ensure that single bid awards are reasonable and justifiable.
MND is also reviewing, in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, other aspects of the procurement system like the tender/quotation duration.
The ministry was also working towards an internal procurement guide to advise officers in their purchases.
MND said it would continue efforts to ensure prudence in the use of public funds.
It was also mindful that government purchases are justified on a cost-benefit basis, the procurement process open and fair, and decisions satisfy the criteria of value for money.
MND's full response to the queries from Channel NewsAsia:
Q. What kind of discrepancies were found in the procurement process?
A. MND's internal audit team was tasked by Minister Khaw to work with NParks to examine the purchase of the bicycles and review the procurement system as a whole after a newspaper article was published on this on 22 June.
As part of the audit, all officers involved in the procurement were interviewed. On 10 Jul, NParks officers discovered links between Bernard Lim and an owner of BikeHop in Bernard's Facebook account. However Bernard's FB account was also found to have nearly 300 other "friends" including other bike suppliers and vendors as well as many other biking enthusiasts. Bernard was a known biking enthusiast. On-line postings reinforced what NParks had discovered and the continuing inquiries and audit subsequently uncovered certain significant discrepancies which led to the decision to suspend Bernard from duty and to report the matter to the CPIB for investigation
=> The netizen's CSI report came out in fuckwarezone on 14 Jul 12 (http://forums.fuckwarezone.com.sg/eat-drink-man-woman-16/csi-attempt-nparks-brompton-procurement-process-ended-up-dodgy-winning-bidder-3814897.html) and now, the FAP is saying that they discovered the links on 10 Jul 12. So why didn't they announce them earlier? If not for the netizen's discovery, would they have tried to cover it up?
As internal investigations were ongoing last week, NParks was unable to comment on this issue earlier.
Q. In light of this case, have there been changes in SOP in NParks in dealing with purchases? What kind of specific guidelines do officers now have to follow? We do understand that NParks is looking at having longer quotation period, and recalling the quotation when only one vendor made a bid. What other checks and balances are being put in place?
A. MND is working with NParks as well as our other MND agencies to consider practical ways to strengthen our procurement controls for tenders and quotations, especially where single bids are involved. Appropriate approving authorities and proper justifications will be required to ensure that single bid awards are reasonable and justifiable. We are also reviewing, in consultation with MOF, other aspects of our procurement system like the tender/quotation duration and are working towards an internal procurement guide to advise and guide our officers in their purchases.
We will continue our efforts to ensure that prudence is always exercised in the use of public funds. We are mindful that government purchases need to be justified on a cost-benefit basis, that the procurement process must be open and fair, and that decisions taken satisfy the criteria of value for money.
Q. Does MND think the Brompton bikes are really value for money? Could the same objectives be met with cheaper and less branded bikes?
A. The purchase of high specifications foldable bikes was made on the basis of an open Gebiz tender where a single bid was received. The vendor in question bid to supply foldable bikes which met all specifications and which was within the budget. The bikes the vendor was offering was Brompton. There was no other bidder offering other bikes. If there were, these bids and the bikes offered would have been evaluated accordingly against the specifications and comparative costs, regardless whether they were "branded" or not.
=> Was the question answered? NO!
- CNA/wm
