Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration has submitted to Ministerial Tender Committee (MTC) a request for approval of a P40 million tender that forms part of the planned project to be awarded to Steve Harvey Global (SHG) by the Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS).
TENDER NO: PAGPA /MTC – DBS/2021 – 2022 is for the supply, workflow design, installation, integration, commissioning and training of UHD 4K television production equipment at Mass Media Auditorium for the Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS).
Despite a communique issued last week by the Office of the President (OP) in a bid to clarify the direct appointment of Steve Harvey Global (SHG) by the DBS as published by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) on the 3rd June 2021, this publication has established that it is matter of time before the tender is formally awarded to Harvey’s company.
The award of the tender to a UK company is for the purpose of laying the foundation for Harvey’s work, informants said.
According to documents seen by WeekendPost, the method of procurement is also direct appointment.
The tender documents also state that bidders are required to indicate information in their bids which they consider confidential and whose disclosure shall be prejudicial to their interest.
“Failure to identify the information referred to will render such information subject to declassification after two years following the award of tender,” the documents stated.
In the press statement released last week, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Pearl Ramokoka indicated that in scoping the project, the Department will consult local stakeholders like the Botswana Film Association, Business Botswana Sector and others, following which a relevant Invitation To Tender (ITT) will be developed to facilitate the appointment.
However, this publication can confirm that at the time of the release, a tender notice and invitation to tender had already been sent to the Ministerial Tender Committee for approval.
A source close to the developments has hinted that since its inception, Btv has never awarded a project too technical such as this one to a local company.
Nonetheless, a United Kingdom (UK) based company known as DEGA Broadcast Systems is the one which has been doing jobs for Botswana Television (Btv) for a long time and has been hinted as the favourite to carry out the project.
DEGA Broadcast Systems is based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK and carries out contracts in many parts of the world, but work predominantly within the UK. The company is structured to concentrate solely on the core business of systems integration within the professional television and radio industry.
According to their website, their philosophy is to develop long term relationships with customers by providing exceptional service and building trust. “We take great pride in the reputation that we have established and the harmonious working partnerships that we maintain with not only our clients but, our suppliers as well.”
In clarifying the matter last week, Ramokoka said PPADB’s approval for the direct appointment of Steve Harvey Global is not an award of a tender but rather referring it as an approval of a method of procurement.
She said therefore, the approval gives authority to government to commence negotiations with Steve Harvey Global, for provision of radio and television production services for a period of three years.
“These negotiations may or may not culminate in the award of the tender. It must be appreciated that this is a rudimentary stage of the procurement process, which does not imply any award tender,” she said.
Furthermore, Ramokoka said this initiative is a component of a broader project focused on facilitating the creative industry in Botswana.
She highlighted that apart from the negotiations with Steve Harvey Global, a major development is being undertaken to upgrade the infrastructure at the Mass Media Complex.
Ramokoka said in the unfortunate event that negotiations with SHG are not successful, the country would still be extremely well invested in the world class auditorium which would benefit local and international creatives.
Last week Business Botswana Creative Arts and Media Sector released a statement saying they are constrained to comment on the appointment of Steve Harvey Production Company at the Mass Media.
Harvey, is an American television presenter, comedian, actor, broadcaster, author, game show host and businessman, who is currently worth over 200 million US Dollars and has been directly appointed for a period of 3 years by the Department of Broadcasting Services (BDS), to give the deteriorating media home a face-lift.
Chairperson, Tondarai Tara indicated that in 2019 it proposed for the transformation of the DBS and Information Services (BTV, RB2 and the Daily News).
It also called on government to review the DBS budget upwards, saying extra expenditure on media creates huge potential for job creation in the arts and creative economy where more than 50% of the jobs are held by youth.
“We are constrained to comment on the direct appointment of Steve Harvey Productions, as the mandate, scope, resources committed and terms of its appointment by the DBS are not clear,” reads a statement from Business Botswana.
“Notwithstanding, Business Botswana’s creative arts and media sector continues to be of the strong and unfettered belief that the adequate funding and makeover of the approach and operating model employed by DBS can have a transformative effect on the economic output and job creation prospects of the arts and creativity in Botswana.”
