IEBC ordered to review & amend election systems tender

The Public Procurement Administrative Review Board has directed the electoral agency to correct, clarify and amend sections of the tender document after finding that some of its requirements and evaluation criteria were not sufficiently clear and objective.

The tender, identified as IEBC/OIT/01/2026-2027, covers the supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning, support and maintenance of the Integrated Elections Management System, including hardware equipment and accessories.

Galadirel Investment Limited filed the dispute before the Board, challenging aspects of the procurement process.

In its decision, the Board found deficiencies relating to the clarity, certainty and objectivity of some requirements and evaluation criteria, including the provisions on hardware and technology ownership.

The Board said the tender document is the instrument through which prospective bidders are informed of what is required of them and how their bids will be assessed.

It held that the deficiencies could affect the principles of transparency, fairness, equality and competitiveness required under Article 227 of the Constitution and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act.

The Board, however, stopped short of cancelling the tender, ruling that the identified shortcomings could be addressed through clarification, correction and amendment of the tender document.

The IEBC has now been directed to review the document and publish a new compliant tender document.

Prospective bidders must also be given sufficient time to consider the amendments and prepare their bids, with the Board directing that the period provided should not be less than seven days, as prescribed by law.

The Board has further allowed the IEBC to seek technical advice and support from the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) when reviewing the disputed sections.

The Secretary of the Board has also been directed to forward the decision to the Director-General of PPRA for information, monitoring and any further action deemed necessary under the law.

The Board emphasised that PPRA should not determine the technical specifications of the Integrated Elections Management System, saying that responsibility remains with the IEBC as the procuring entity.

The Board consequently allowed the Request for Review filed by Galadirel Investment Limited on August 14, 2026, in part.