Procurement board to vet all construction bidders through new, restricted system

The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) says bids for tenders in the construction sector will in future be conducted through a restricted bidding process, meaning only prequalified bidders and those listed on its prequalification database would be invited to participate. The board says this is to ensure only capable and verified bidders participate in specific procurement exercises, streamlining procurement timelines and promoting the optimal use of resources. The board will be conducting a prequalification exercise for specific bids in the industry. “This is part of the objective to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the public procurement process. Prequalification will ensure efficiency, capacity, and compliance,“ CPBN spokesperson Johanna Kambala said on Friday. Once prequalified, bidders will remain on the CPBN’s database for a year. Kambala said the prequalification initiative introduces a structured and transparent mechanism to identify, assess, and classify competent, experienced, and well-resourced bidders who will be invited for specific procurements. Interested bidders are required to buy a prequalification bidding document from the CPBN’s offices at a cost of N$3 000, available from 21 January 2026. Areas of focus, she said, include the construction, renovation, alteration, and maintenance of commercial, institutional, or industrial buildings such as schools, hospitals, office blocks, and other public facilities. This will also include civil works infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, dams, water and sanitation systems, and drainage networks. “This initiative provides a proactive approach to ensure only capable and verified bidders participate in specific procurements, thereby streamlining procurement timelines and promoting the optimal use of resources,” Kambala said.