Page 57 - Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities - A U4SSC deliverable

“COVID-19 has made people aware of the costs of bad buying. The costs of getting it wrong have
been uniquely apparent.”

Gavin Hayman, Executive Director, Open Contracting Partnership

Next steps

Since the release of the public monitoring tool, more than 45 corruption-related investigations
(Buenos Aires Times, 2020) have been launched in Ecuador, with an estimated loss of more than
USD 12 million in overpayments.

As well as improving the data issues in the tool, the SDP report recommended changing Ecuador's
procurement regulations to take account of emergency situations and prevent another crisis being
abused in the future.

3.3 How to maintain standards

Ensure the integrity of contracts awarded during a crisis through effective monitoring and
transparent processes.

Overview

Crisis situations can provide the conditions for fraud or corruption to take place in public-sector
buying. Financial controls are often reduced, funding levels can soar and there is immense pressure
on buyers to act and be seen to act by the public and media.

To help maintain ethical and financial standards during an emergency, buyers need to ensure:

• fair and reasonable pricing;

• transparency and accountability;
• a clear roadmap or plan to return to “normal” or sustainable buying.

3.3.1 Ensure value for money

Make sure that products and services bought during an emergency meet minimum standards.

Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities | May 2023 43