Surveys and consultancy services often granted illegally, CA says

The Panda Fund directly awarded three contracts budgeted between MOP325,000 and MOP470,000 in 2011 and 2012

The Commission of Audit (CA) has accused public departments of “lacking the necessary knowledge of the legal framework” when awarding services to companies.
The report issued yesterday indicates that the government issued 1,514 studies, surveys and consultancy services between 2010 and June 2013, totaling MOP1.4 billion globally.
The CA found several “problematic” cases when analyzing the rationale behind some of the grants; including seven contracts adjudicated by the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT), nine by the Transport Bureau (DSAT) and 14 by the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA). Despite those public service contracts being worth over MOP750,000, they were directly awarded to one company without public tender.
Irregularities were also found in 18 contracts awarded by the Macau Foundation that were granted without a written contract. Among other cases, the Panda Fund directly awarded three contracts budgeted between MOP325,000 and MOP470,000 in 2011 and 2012. One of the contracts was related to the organization of a contest in which people voted on the names for two giant pandas offered to the MSAR by mainland China.
The CA stresses that, according to the law, the public tender is only expendable if the direct awarding of public service contracts is preceded by consultation with at least three companies offering relevant services.
Those consultations must be registered in writing if the cost exceeds the parameters of between MOP15,000 and MOP150,000, depending on whether it is an acquisition of goods or expenses related to construction work.
The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, commented on the CA report, stating that the services under his watch must try to have a better knowledge of the laws to acquire goods and services as well as strengthening supervision efforts.