The Ministry of Finance of The Bahamas is pleased to release for a thirty (30) day consultation period, the draft Public Procurement Bill 2019.

The consultation period commences on 15th October and ends on 14th November, 2019. The draft Bill may be found on the government’s website at http://www.bahamas.gov.bs under 'Bills, Laws and Acts' then 'Draft, New, and Amended' or on the Public Financial Management & Performance Monitoring Reform (PFM/PMR) Project website at http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/pfmpmr under 'Resources'.

Written comments and questions regarding the draft Bill may be submitted via email to the Procurement Officer danielsferguson@bahamas.gov.bs or alternatively in writing, to the Procurement Officer:

Key sections of the Bill include:

• Establishment of a Public Procurement Department headed by a Chief Procurement Officer;
• Establishment of a Public Procurement Board;
• Procedures for complaints;
• Establishment of a Procurement Review Tribunal;
• Public Notification on contract awards
• Established consistent methods of procurement and bidding processes;
• Debarment procedures;
• Margins of preference for domestic suppliers; and
• Set-aside contract opportunities for MSMEs.

Ministry of Finance
Cecil Wallace Whitfield Building, West Bay Street
P.O. Box N-3017, Nassau, Bahamas
Telephone: (242) 604-1055