Supplier Registration Process to Be Amended

Changes are to be made to the supplier registration process to improve overall government public procurement.

Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on March 24, Executive Director of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), Nadia Morris, said that based on consultations with its stakeholders, the PPC has received feedback on areas that can be improved.

“Based on our recent Customer Service Satisfaction Survey, while there is an increased satisfaction with doing business with the PPC, there is just one element that persons have indicated to us, that the registration process, in particular, is bureaucratic and it could be simplified,” she said.

Under Government of Jamaica procurement guidelines, suppliers and contractors of goods, services and infrastructural works, must register to provide service to public-sector organisations.

Mrs. Morris noted that the PPC is proposing to amend the supplier registration arrangements by adjusting some of its processes, to increase efficiency.

With that in mind, the Executive Director foresees that the reforms will prompt more businesses to participate in public procurement.

“At the end of the day, we are here to facilitate national development and small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in public procurement. What we are foreseeing is that these reforms will enable these persons now to come in,” she said.

The PPC sought the input of a wide cross-section of its stakeholders on the proposed reform, during stakeholder consultations. The proposed revision to the PPC Supplier Registration System includes eliminating some registration requirements and/or required documentation.

While it may seem bureaucratic and persons may shy away from engaging in the process, she believes when the reforms come into reality, businesses will realise the need for extensive documentation is reduced and it will be easier to participate.

“We are far advanced [for the changes]. We have a concept paper that is being developed now, based on our stakeholder engagements,” Mrs. Morris noted.

The Public Procurement (Amendment) Act 2025 was approved in the Senate recently.

The legislation, which was approved with four amendments, aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in the country’s procurement process.