The Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development (PPID), is aware of the various allegations and social media posts circulating as it relates to our Team Members and we would like to advise that this matter is being addressed, as we do not take these allegations lightly.
Particular attention has been drawn to threats made in the social media post against Team Members and the matter has been reported to the Police for investigation.
Hon. Akierra Missick, Minister of PPID states “The Ministry of PPID and its Team Members will continue to serve the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands with the highest standards of integrity, fair play and transparency while ensuring value for money at all times. We take allegations of bias, favoritism, and nepotism by our Team Members seriously. We invite persons who have a complaint about operational aspects of any of our Departments to write to us at ppidcomplaints@gov.tc , where we will advance them to the relevant authorities for investigation and review by the Ministry of PPID. We strongly discourage persons from making threats against our Team Members.”
As it relates to the awarding of Works/Contracts, the Ministry of PPID’s Departments take all steps to ensure that they are all evaluated and awarded with fairness and transparency as set out in the Public Procurement Ordinance 2021.
We take this opportunity to once again outline for the benefit of all potential Bidders/Contractors of the steps taken as it relates to Works/Contracts awarded by the Ministry of PPID under the sum of US$75,000.00:
- All jobs estimated over $1,500.00 and less than $75,000.00 are sent out for tender as Request for Quotation (RFQ). This process follows the issuing of the RFQs via email to ALL REGISTERED CONTRACTORSwith the Ministry of PPID’s Public Works Department.
- Registered Contractors are those who have completed and submitted the application for indicating the name of the company, contact person and contact details legibly, type of business license held, place of business, and other information to confirm the owner of the Bidding Company is a Turks & Caicos Islander. These documents are to be submitted to the Contracts Coordinator with the completed registration form. The Contracts Coordinator’s contact is dammorriss@gov.tc
- The bids are returned to the PWD office drop box that is locked and can only be opened by a representative of the Ministry of PPID.
- The bids are evaluated by a panel and not by any one individual. The panel is appointed by the Ministry and comprises of staff from PWD and a representative from the Ministry of PPID.
- Bids are evaluated according to the evaluation criteria that is issued with the RFQ and points are awarded based on the information submitted by the bidders as required/requested in the RFQ.
- Bidders have to achieve or exceed the minimum amount of points as set out in the criteria before their bid price can be considered.
- Points are also awarded for price and the bidder’s price is also compared with the engineer’s estimate and against the other bidders.
- The bidder with the highest combined (points for quality and points for price) points will be awarded the job. For jobs that are estimated to be less than $1,500.00 only requires one quote and does not have to be tendered. For jobs that are of an urgent nature and is estimated below $75,000.00, three quotes are requested from the list of registered contractors and a Procurement Decision Form is prepared after the bids have been submitted and evaluated and prices reviewed against the engineer’s estimate and the other bidders.
Hon. Missick also states “I also confirm that as Minister of PPID, I have no involvement in the review and decision making as it relates to any Works/Contracts being offered for bidding. I trust the technical officers in the various Departments to continue to conduct their duties in a fair and transparent manner. I also advise that Contractors/Bidders, you may be disadvantaging your bid if all the forms required are not completed and submitted with your bid. The Ministry of PPID will host another Contractors Forum in the Islands, so that persons are aware of what the steps are required in order to bid on Works/Contracts through our Departments.”
