By Sallieu S. Kanu
Sierra Leone – 6th October 2025: The Independent Procurement Review Panel (IPRP) has concluded its investigation into a complaint filed by Rolaan Enterprises against the Free Education Project Secretariat (FEPS), overturning the company’s disqualification from a major government procurement process.
The dispute centered on a competitive bidding process initiated by FEPS on 14th June 2025 for the “Design, Layout, Editorial Work, and Distribution of Technical and Learning Materials for Primary II” under procurement number SL-MBSSE–483324-GO-RFB. The project is funded by the World Bank and managed by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) and the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).
Rolaan Enterprises was one of seven bidders whose documents were opened on 28th July 2025. However, only three advanced to the technical evaluation stage. Rolaan was disqualified due to the Evaluation Committee’s inability to verify its ISO certificate and website address.
Key Grievances Raised by Rolaan Enterprises:
- The ISO certificate submitted (Certificate Number: QA-55185/0725) included a website address (https://www.ukasltd.co.uk/certificate-clients/), which was overlooked.
- The committee relied solely on scanning a QR code, which failed to provide verification.
- Rolaan argued that under Section 53(5) of the Public Procurement Act 2016, the committee should have sought clarification before disqualifying the bid.
Findings by the IPRP Panel:
- Rolaan Enterprises did submit a valid ISO certificate with a verifiable website address.
- The Evaluation Committee failed to use the provided website and did not seek clarification from the bidder.
- The committee’s reliance on limited verification methods and its interpretation that World Bank guidelines override Sierra Leone’s procurement laws were deemed incorrect.
The IPRP emphasized that national procurement laws take precedence over donor guidelines in all public procurement matters.
Panel’s Final Decision:
- The disqualification of Rolaan Enterprises was declared unfair and negligent, and has been officially set aside.
- The Evaluation Committee is directed to re-evaluate Rolaan’s bid within seven days, using the correct verification method.
- The re-evaluation must be conducted in the presence of an observer from either the National Public Procurement Authority or the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The IPRP, established under Sections 20(1), 65(1), and 20(8) of the Public Procurement Act No.10 of 2016, serves as an oversight body to ensure fairness and compliance in public procurement processes. This ruling reinforces the importance of transparency, due diligence, and adherence to national laws in Sierra Leone’s procurement landscape.