What pre-qualification bidders need to know
New rules
The Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) was established as a juristic person under the Public Procurement Act (PPA), No. 15 of 2015 (as amended), with the mandate to conduct the bidding process on behalf of public entities for the award of contracts for procurement or disposal of assets that exceed the threshold prescribed for public entities.As part of its strategic objective to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the public procurement process, as contemplated in Section 2 of the PPA, the CPBN will be conducting a pre-qualification exercise for specific bids in the construction works category.
Developed in line with Section 42(1) of the PPA, the pre-qualification initiative introduces a structured and transparent mechanism to identify, assess, and classify competent, experienced, and well-resourced bidders, who will then be invited to participate in restricted bidding for specific procurements.
The scope of works covered under this exercise includes:
• Building works: Construction, renovation, alteration, and maintenance of commercial, institutional, or industrial buildings, such as schools, hospitals, office blocks and other public facilities.
• Civil works: Infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, dams, water and sanitation systems and drainage networks.
This initiative provides a proactive approach to ensure that only capable and verified bidders participate in specific procurements, thereby streamlining procurement timelines and promoting the optimal use of resources.
Going forward, construction bids falling under this scope will be conducted through the restricted bidding method, in which only bidders prequalified and listed on the CPBN pre-qualification database will be invited to participate.
To participate in the pre-qualification process, interested bidders are required to purchase a pre-qualification bidding document from the CPBN offices at a cost of N$3 000. Once prequalified, bidders will remain on the CPBN’s database for a period of one year. The pre-qualification bidding document is available at the CPBN office, and bidders have until 21 January 2026 to apply.
By implementing the provisions of Section 42(1) of the PPA, this initiative marks a significant milestone in the CPBN’s ongoing efforts to make public procurement more efficient, streamlined, transparent, and results-oriented. It reaffirms the Board’s commitment to conducting procurement in a manner that is efficient, effective, fair, and accountable, in support of Namibia’s national development goals.
For more information, bidders are requested to visit the CPBN website at www.cpbn.com.na
* Johanna Kambala is the Manager for Stakeholder Relations at the Central Procurement Board of Namibia.