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Zambia Daily Mail by Online Editor on 6/7/13
By JIMMY CHIBUYE
GOVERNEMNT has cancelled the tender for the supply and delivery of 67, 765.5 metric tonnes of top dressing fertiliser for the 2013/2014 farming season.
Chief Government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that the tender has been annulled following challenges faced during the evaluation of the bids.
Mr Sakeni, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said however that the tender would be re-advertised.
Government plans to support 900,000 small-scale farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme in the 2013/2014 agricultural season.
“However, consideration challenges were experienced in the process of evaluating the bids. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has, therefore, in public interest decided to cancel and re-advertise the tender for the supply of top dressing fertiliser. The cancellation is in line with Statutory Instrument No. 63 of 2011,” he said.
Mr Sakeni said the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is mindful of its position with respect to the agricultural season and will work expeditiously to ensure that the top dressing fertiliser is procured in good time.
He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock advertised for the supply and delivery of 67, 765.5 metric tonnes of top dressing fertiliser in March this year.
The minister said the tender closed on April 19, 2013 and 18 bids were received and evaluated in line with the requirements of the procurement regulations.
Mr Sakeni said the evaluation process included verification of declared physical stocks, declaration of available physical stocks or proof of having placed orders was a requirement stipulated in the solicitation document.
