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National Treasury looks to tech forensics

Kimberly Guest
By Kimberly Guest, ITWeb contributor
Johannesburg, 02 Dec 2020

National Treasury is calling for proposals from experienced and professional firms to join a panel that will be co-sourced to the Office of the Accountant-General.

The panel will provide forensic investigation services in all spheres of government covering areas of financial management and public procurement.

The tender documentation reveals there are several elements that could form part of a forensic investigation or specialised performance audit.

This includes the analysis of reports to identify possible fraud and corruption as well as risks, and any other incidents of irregularities; conducting forensic investigations; supporting disciplinary proceedings, including testifying; and referring criminal allegations of fraud and corruption to relevant law enforcement agencies as well as supporting criminal proceedings with expert testimony.

The scope of the contract also includes the provision and use of diagnostic tools. National Treasury says this will be needed to carry out general reviews of activities to highlight risks arising either out of fraud or from any other source.

Depending on the circumstances, National Treasury says the specialised performance audit or forensic investigation will focus on one or more of the following aspects:

  • Broad financial management of state funds such as the examination of the use of state funds in all spheres of government on public procurement;
  • Procedures (eg, supply chain management processes and regulation);
  • Systems including internal control systems and National Treasury transversal systems; and
  • Performance and/or the role of staff and employees.

A key element which will be assessed during the technical evaluation of bids is digital and/or cyber resources. Interested firms are expected to provide proof of availability of appropriate IT solutions for forensic investigation and suitably qualified personnel.

National Treasury has, however, made allowances for this service to be outsourced. In such a case, the bidder must provide proof of the arrangement made with the “suitable service provider” as well as demonstrate the company has appropriate IT solutions for forensic investigation and suitably qualified personnel.

Acceptance of bids will be subject to the condition that both the contracting firm and its personnel providing the service must be cleared by the appropriate authorities to the levels of confidentiality/secret/top secret. The same provisions and measures apply to subcontractors.

Interested parties have until 11 December to submit proposals.

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