What is Public Procurement?

As per the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, 2015, “procurement” or “public procurement” means the acquisition of goods, works or services involving the use of public money. “Public money” means money that is—

received or receivable by a public body;
raised by an instrument from which it can be reasonably inferred that the State accepts ultimate liability in the case of default;
spent or committed for future expenditure, by a public body;
distributed by a public body to a person;
raised in accordance with a written law, for a public purpose; or
appropriated by Parliament.

A “public body” means—

the Office of the President;
the Parliament;
the Judiciary;
a Ministry or a department or division of a Ministry;
the Tobago House of Assembly, or a division of the Tobago House of Assembly;
a Municipal Corporation established under the Municipal Corporations Act;
a Regional Health Authority established under the Regional Health Authorities Act;
a statutory body, responsibility for which is assigned to a Minister of Government;
a State-controlled enterprise;
a Service Commission established under the Constitution or other written law; or
a body corporate or unincorporated entity—

i. in relation to any function which it exercises on behalf of the State; or

ii. which is established by virtue of the President’s prerogative, by a Minister of Government in his capacity as such or by another public authority; or

a body corporate or unincorporated entity in relation to any function, project, scheme or arrangement which involves the use by it, of public money.

Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Act, 2016

Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property (Amendment) Act, 2017

The Office of Procurement Regulation:

The Office of Procurement Regulation is a body corporate established pursuant to an Act of Parliament, namely the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, 2015. The Act aims to provide for public procurement, and for the retention and disposal of public property in accordance with the principles of good governance, namely accountability, integrity, transparency, and value for money and to promote local industry development, sustainable procurement and sustainable development.

Though the Act was assented to on January 14, 2015, it comes into operation on a date to be fixed by the President by proclamation. However, to allow for the establishment of the Office of the Procurement Regulation (OPR), the appointment of the Members of the Board, the performance of certain key functions of the OPR, and the drafting of Regulations, the Act was partially proclaimed by way of Legal Notice 150 of 2015.

Contact information:

The Office of Procurement Regulation

Level 19, Tower D,

Port of Spain International Waterfront Centre,

1A Wrightson Road,

Port of Spain

Telephone number: 1-868-627-4OPR (1-868-627-4677) OR 1-868-226-4OPR (1-868-226-4677)

Website: https://oprtt.org/