State Auditors Rap Finance Ministry for Not Supervising Procurements
The National Audit Office says the Finance Ministry has not been conducting oversight on procurements organized by state companies since a separate board was closed in 2010 and the ministry took over that responsibility.
The state auditors said in audit findings released Monday that the purpose of the closure had not been achieved.
Purchasing departments are not content with the level of consultation provided by the ministry, and the ministry has not conduced oversight, said the National Audit Office.
Under the Public Procurements Act, the ministry has sole jurisdiction in this area.
The ministry's acting undersecretary, Agris Peedu, told uudised.err.ee that the ministry felt it was indeed necessary to increase the amount of regularly scheduled checks, and it was attempting to comply within its limited means.
He also countered that the quality of consultation was not uneven.
"Consultation and checks on public procurement have never been as active as they are now," said Peedu.
"Unlike the Public Procurement Board, we also provide advice to tenderers, applicants and interested parties," said Peedu.