Page 19 - Sept-2020-Issue

ARTICLE

Emergency Public

Procurement - Capacity

Enhancement for New

Age Governance Hari Mohan Vijay Mittal

Former DGOF and Dy. Director General
Chairman Ordnance Factory Board
Ordnance Factory Board

“public procurement under emergency situation is often a big challenge for the implement-
ing agencies in the times of tremendous adversities and is thus a strategic imperative and
a challenge which must be overcome. The article analyses the scenario based on first hand
field experience of the authors and explores the opportunities and alternatives that can ra-
tionalize and transform the existing provisions to a robust procurement system that could
be enacted in least possible time and in a manner that it can withstand the public scrutiny
once the emergency is over.”

Background - need for often referred to as emergency or critical function in the nec-
improvement public procurement. Emergency essary timeframe: for example,
Public procurement is a funda- situations can include: the destruction of critical elec-
tion supplies immediately prior
mental, crucial component of • Natural or manmade disas-
democratic governance for sus- ters: such as earthquakes, cy- to an election.
tainable development. Govern- clones, tsunamis, volcanic Every decade has few special
ments around the world spend an eruptions, flooding, fires or events that define the decade.
estimated US$ 9.5 trillion in pub- contamination. This decade is indeed the one
lic contracts every year, which • Failures of critical infra- that belongs to COVID- 19 and
in many developing countries structure or equipment: such would find place in history by the
represents approximately 15-22 as failure of a prison secu- spread of this pandemic severely
percent of GDP. India also falls rity system or critical hospital distressing the whole world with
in the same bracket. From build- infrastructure. more than 26 million people al-
ing roads and power stations, to ready suffering and the count is
purchasing pharmaceuticals and • Critical health or environmen- still on. The pandemic as of now
securing solid liquid waste man- tal emergencies: such as a pan- is showing no signs of relief. The
agement services, efficient use of demic or food safety incident. whole world is fighting the pan-
public resources contributes to • Political emergencies: such as a demic to emerge out of it. India
better delivery of services. war, coup, or civil insurrection. is also fighting the battle against
An ‘emergency’ is a sudden un- • Critical security emergencies: COVID- 19 in a prolific manner
foreseen event. It can result in in- such as a terrorist attack, seri- for saving the humanity needing
jury, loss of life or critical damage ous crime or major cyber secu- a lot of procurement measures
to property or infrastructure. The rity emergency. through emergency route espe-
procurement flexibilities that are • Other unanticipated events cially the lifesaving medicines
exercised by implementing agen- that make it impossible for an and equipments. Defence expen-
cies in an emergency situation are agency to perform a statutory diture obviously is also one

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