Procurement and supply chain consultancy firm ProSupp Consult, has organized a three-day continuous professional development training on the effective writing of specification, and drafting of bill of quantities (BOQs) and terms of reference (TORs) for consultancy services for procurement and supply professionals  at the National Banking College in Accra.

The workshop equipped participants with the requisite documentation and drafting skills in the preparation of tender documents for goods, works and consultancy services in a manner that ensures efficiency and value for money.

Over fifty (50) participants, comprised of practitioners and professionals in both the public and private sectors of the economy and drawn from the security services, revenue assurance, healthcare, banking and finance as well as pensions, pharmaceutical and transport services firms across the country took part in the informative and expertise sharing session.

Speaking in an interview with journalists, Mr. Collins Agyemang Sarpong, Managing Consultant for ProSupp Consult, stated that the workshop was to empower participants with the requisite knowledge to achieve value for money procurement in their institutions.

He said: “There is a huge gap in the drafting of effective specifications for goods, the development of clear and understandable bill of quantities for works, and the drafting of terms of references for engaging consultancy services in both public and private institutions.

This training workshop has shaped the mindset of participants with the requisite skills and know-how to take charge of this critical aspect of the procurement processes in their respective organizations—both public and private sectors

According to Mr. Sarpong, the astute procurement expert, having clear and concise specifications as well as an understandable BOQ and terms of references will enable procurement professionals to ensure competition, fairness and value for money.

“Buying for luxury is not a good procurement practice; this can be solved by preparing tender documents with the right specifications and terms of references that ensures that procured goods and contracts are fit for purpose, highly needed and offer value for money,” he stated.

Christian Erskine Esq., a participant and procurement executive at GOIL, shared that the training has greatly shaped his thoughts on key practices in procurement, especially in the area of specifications and the drafting bill of quantities.

“This training has been enlightening. I’ve learned about specifications and why I need to be involved as a procurement officer in the drafting of bill of quantities (BOQs) and terms of references (TORs) when procuring goods, works and services,” he said.

He added: “This has been an impactful training session; and I’m going to put the knowledge to work. I strongly recommend this training to other practitioners across the country.”

Another participant and a banker, Ms. Efia Ofei said: “For me, this training has motivated us [procurement and supply professionals] to be very much involved in the preparation of BOQs and TORs instead of leaving it in the hands of user departments and other professionals to come up with what they want.

I would recommend that similar trainings are undertaken for other professionals to increase their awareness that it's not in their place alone to come up with specifications, and that procurement persons are supposed to act as coordinators for such functions.”

ProSupp Consult is a leading procurement and supply chain management, training and consultancy firm.