The audit results revealed numerous issues related to coordination, control, and the level of information security on the portal. In particular, goods purchased from a single source were formed based on templates from previous years, which reduces competition and quality.
The audit demonstrated insufficient coordination between the Department of Public Procurement of the Ministry of Finance, the state institution "Procurement Center," and the state enterprise "Infosystems." Moreover, the lack of IT specialists negatively affects the quality of services provided.
Identified issues in the field of information security.
“There is inadequate management of user rights: some employees have unjustifiably broad powers. The protection of networks and servers is not at the required level. Additionally, the plan for ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the portal and its recovery after failures is not subject to regular testing,” the message notes.
Furthermore, the State Institution "Procurement Center" did not comply with the requirements for price monitoring when procuring from a single source, which led to the conclusion of individual contracts without competition.
The Accounts Chamber proposed a number of recommendations to improve the situation, including the establishment of a permanent coordinating council on public procurement and information technology under the Ministry of Finance. It is also recommended to integrate the portal with other state systems and implement full electronic control at all stages of procurement.
It is necessary to establish a clear procedure for interaction that will define the responsibilities and timelines between procuring organizations and the "Procurement Center," as well as to increase the number of IT specialists and organize training in cybersecurity.
Considering modern requirements, the Accounts Chamber of the Kyrgyz Republic reports that the proposed measures aim to improve the management of information technologies, enhance security and integration levels, which in turn should increase the reliability and transparency of the public procurement system.
