7.40 Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office today reported on the Overseas Development Administration's Turkish Universities Equipment Project. The Administration agreed in September 1991 to provide 23.36 million to support a 66.75 million contract between the Turkish Higher Education Council and a UK company, TecQuipment Limited, to provide much needed technical equipment for undergraduate training to 28 universities on 33 sites in Turkey.
Action continues to complete the project.
The Administration did not initially review whether TecQuipment's procedures for ensuring separation of responsibilities would avoid such potential conflicts of interest arising. However, their subsequent review provided assurances that neither TecQuipment's nor Fisons Scientific Equipment's bids received preferential treatment and that the companies did not enjoy an unfair advantage. The review identified that some poor procurement practices existed but found no evidence of financial impropriety in the management of the tender process. However, the Administration, took action to obtain some useful cost reductions and to remedy a number of post tender irregularities. The Administration and the Department of Trade and Industry have changed their procedures to reflect the lessons learned from this and other projects.