Ordinance 84 passed 6–1, approving a $2,250,000 supplemental appropriation for courthouse elevators and a waiver of bid requirements to expedite emergency procurement; officials said new elevators could take about six months to arrive.

Board members clashed over authorization of an emergency sewer repair on East Hartstill Avenue, with the town supervisor calling the projected $5.1M work potentially illegal without competitive bids and other members arguing the repair is urgent and the emergency procurement is appropriate to stop sewage backups.

The Scranton School District board voted to reject previously received bids for renovations at 1509 Maple Street, declared an emergency to enable expedited procurement under 24 PS 7‑751 and authorized the superintendent to implement emergency contracts. The board also approved naming the site the Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East after a contested discussion about public input to the naming process.

Lawmakers asked the ports authority to produce the emergency contract awarded to Cashman (the dredging firm used in 2017 and 2026) and related procurement files; authority officials defended the selection as an emergency purchase consistent with regulations and consultations with fiscal oversight entities.

The ports authority told a House committee that emergency dredging at Bahía de las Mareas restored the channel to its 1966 design depth and finished ahead of the board-approved deadline, reporting removal of roughly 120,000 cubic yards of sediment and an internal savings in the low millions.

The board approved an emergency service-truck purchase for $70,583, a Hillcrest intercom system for $42,751.37, an audit contract for $46,000 and accepted multiple grants including a $206,481 transition school-to-work grant, an $865,682.27 voluntary pre-K grant and a $15,000 preschool development grant.

Staff reported the county and many local agencies did not receive state procurement bids for road salt; citing a shortage and rising prices, the committee approved a resolution declaring an emergency procurement to secure supplies for winter operations.

County staff warned that heavy-truck detours have damaged bridges; the court authorized suspension of competitive-bidding rules for immediate repairs to at least two level‑1 emergency bridges and instructed staff to prepare ratifying documents.

The Willacy County Commissioners Court approved an emergency procurement exemption and an emergency order to repair damage to Gonzales and Bush roads caused by pipeline construction; the county authorized one-time contracting to restore hazardous road sections with costs to be billed to the pipeline company.

Staff described an emergency excavation to repair a failing 8‑inch force main at the wastewater treatment plant that required emergency procurement and temporary bypass. The committee approved a contingency transfer estimated at $22,000 and staff said an 800‑foot replacement project is out for bids with design completed.

Director Adams reported the city received no award through the state bid and recommended securing up to 600 tons at $120/ton as a stopgap; the city currently holds ~1,000 tons and uses roughly 1,200–1,500 tons per winter season.

The committee recommended a $366,623.26 emergency purchase order to finish low-voltage and IT construction at the Shelby County Election Commission Operation Center, work completed by April 15 to ensure election readiness, staff said.

Facing urgent HVAC and capital needs, the board adopted emergency purchasing and bidding policies and amended the non‑budgeted purchase threshold to $15,000 after debate. Directors emphasized oversight and asked for regular reporting of large non‑budgeted expenditures.

The county approved an emergency purchase for proprietary landfill closure materials after Solid Waste Director John Philips told commissioners rising liner costs tied to global oil-market pressures made immediate procurement necessary. The board approved the purchase at a not-to-exceed amount stated in the record.

Council moves forward with generator purchase to ensure consistent water service amid delays

Council members pressed for an independent audit of the FY27 budget and debated whether emergency procurement that authorized a consultant breached transparency or single‑source norms; staff said emergency procurement rules allow action but encouraged competitive review where feasible.

At a June 3 special call, East Point council confirmed an emergency procurement to support reconciliation, cash‑flow analysis and utility‑fund review and accepted an in‑kind offer from Mr. Ed Wall of Piper Sandler to review the proposed 2025–26 budget and prior years as a supplement to ongoing work with Plant Moran.

Commissioners approve emergency measures to secure petroleum suppliers and declare burn ban.

LB 9‑97 would require agencies to submit emergency (no‑bid) contract notification forms to the State Auditor in addition to the Department of Administrative Services. Auditor Mike Foley cited roughly 20 such contracts yearly and said a recent $2.5M contract lacked required justification and raised concerns including backdating.

Council directs city manager to initiate emergency procurement for police station relocation work

The board approved a package of capital and operating items including Taxiway H rehab contingent on FAA grants, emergency repairs at the detention center, new rescue and EMS vehicles, IT/hardware renewals, and a FY26 budget amendment allocating $13.29 million (including $5M to pension and $6M saved toward a courthouse).

County finance staff outlined FY26 budget amendments already acted on for administrative reporting, including a health-department grant, a sheriff vehicle purchase, and nearly $5.6 million spent on flood recovery (funded by a mix of lottery proceeds and fund balance).

Allexer Namundjebo Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) has confirmed that  it carried out an emergency procurement process to upgrade its security systems and appoint a security consultant.  This follows allegations made by member of parliament and Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda. In a social media post, Amupanda accused Namdia of violating procurement procedures.  He claimed the company appointed a security consultant without formal qualifications and that the consultant’s son was involved in installing the new security system.  He also raised concerns about Namdia’s previous ties to Neldan, an Angolan-based company that, he alleged, had access to the company’s alarm reports. In a statement issued over the weekend, Namdia’s spokesperson, Beverly Coussement, said the emergency procurement was done under the public procurement act following a “brazen and devastating armed robbery” at its headquarters earlier this year. “These measures were executed urgently… All decisions relating to these upgrades were taken in the best interest of protecting staff, product and premises, and in alignment with international best practices,” Coussement said. She stated that the board appointed the security consultant to stabilise operations and manage urgent security upgrades, citing a critical need for specialised expertise.  Namdia did not directly address the claims about the consultant’s qualifications or the involvement of his son. Regarding its past relationship with Neldan, Namdia confirmed the company was previously contracted.  Namdia said Neldan is Namibian-registered and operates in several countries, including Angola.  Coussement said the contract has since ended, adding that this transition highlighted the need for a revised security approach. Namdia defended its actions as lawful and necessary, urging the public and political figures to avoid sharing unverified claims. “Speculation, unverified accusations or attempts to influence the process could undermine the pursuit of justice,” the company said. In February, Namdia was the target of an armed robbery in which diamonds worth millions were stolen. Two people, including a Namdia employee, were killed during the incident.  Two suspects were later arrested and remain in custody. Police have not released further updates on the investigation.

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Health and Social Services spent over N$54.8 million through irregular emergency and direct procurement, despite laws limiting these methods to exceptional situations.  This is according to the latest audit report by Auditor General (AG) Junias Kandjeke. The report shows the ministry used emergency procurement to buy goods and services worth N$19.2 million, even though these items were already listed in its procurement plan.  Under the Public Procurement Act of 2015, this method is allowed only during disasters or wars or when lives or the environment are in danger.  The AG’s office found that the ministry did not meet these conditions. The audit notes that using emergency procurement in this way bypassed the standard process, which is meant to ensure fairness and transparency in public spending. The ministry also used direct procurement to spend N$35.6 million without inviting competitive bids.  This method is only allowed when a supplier has exclusive rights or no alternative is available.  However, the audit found that the ministry used this method often, even when alternatives existed. Kandjeke raised concerns about relying on single suppliers, saying it reduces competition and could lead to inflated prices. The audit also found the ministry exceeded its budget in one main division by N$66.9 million, or 2.35% of the total.  Despite Treasury approving some virements, the ministry still overspent by N$106.8 million across 15 operational and 5 development subdivisions.  This overspending was not authorised and violated the State Finance Act of 1991. Analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the findings point to a pattern of abuse. “The auditor general’s report shows over N$54 million was spent by the Ministry of Health through emergency and direct procurement. While emergency procurement is meant for true crises, it is often abused. This can lead to overpricing, poor quality goods, corruption, and misuse of public funds. In health care, such failures can directly harm people’s lives,” Kamwanyah said. He added that large amounts spent without competitive bidding suggest weak internal controls and possible manipulation of procurement rules. “This may only be the tip of the iceberg. To protect public funds and restore public trust, a fully independent presidential commission of inquiry is urgently needed,” he said. The ministry’s procurement practices have faced scrutiny before.  Last month, reports surfaced about overpayments for malaria medication, with documents showing large markups between supplier prices and what the government paid. Concerns were also raised about the purchase of drugs no longer recommended for use and whether the ministry was misled by middlemen. In 2023, the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) came under fire for a proposed N$458 million medical supply tender.  In another case, a CPBN evaluator awarded a tender to a close corporation owned by a relative. The health ministry did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.

Government Secures Six-Month Food Supply for State School Hostels NBC Online Sun, 04/06/2025 - 18:04