Comfortable schools: how are corruption risks eliminated?
Any national project or program that is implemented with budget money is always under close public scrutiny. After all, there is a risk that the funds will be stolen and the project will be a failure. But Samruk-Kazyna Construction, which is the operator of the new national project "Comfortable School", has repeatedly stated that control over each tenge spent will be strict, and all corruption risks will be eliminated. After all, we are talking about children, about current and future students, for whom, in fact, these comfortable schools will be built.
We started in the company from the very basics - total control at the stage of competitive procedures. Gabit Malgazdarov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Samruk-Kazyna Construction, said that in order to maintain transparency in determining suppliers, the company has developed a platform that is successfully operating today. Potential suppliers submitted their applications on this portal electronically. A commission of 44 people was also created:
- competitive commission - 13 people;
- expert commission - 21 people;
- observers - 10 people.
The list of observers included members of the public councils of the Ministry of Education, the NWF "Samruk-Kazyna", NCE "Atameken" and representatives of the akimats of Astana, Akmola and Karaganda regions. Observers were given access to the portal.
“They can come in at any time, download documents and check with our results. If they notice any violations, they can apply in writing to SK Construction, and the company will immediately begin to eliminate the shortcomings. So far, no violations have been recorded, no complaints have been received. Therefore, I believe that at the moment the transparency of determining suppliers is ensured, corruption risks are clearly excluded," Malgazdarov assured.
How will the construction process be controlled?
Since February this year, an information system has been functioning, where you can follow the implementation of the project from start to finish online. The platform allows you to track the construction process, starting with the collection of initial data. IP was not developed "for show". Information on the allocation of land plots and the collection of necessary documents is already being filled in there. When the design and construction of schools begins, it will be possible to track whether the project developer is on schedule. In the event that the contractor does not have time or lags behind for any type of work, the system will inform.
“Remotely, we can at any time, 24/7, monitor each object using a video surveillance system. It allows you to track everything: whether work is being carried out at the facility, how it is being carried out, whether safety and labor protection are observed. In this information system there are magazines of author's technical supervision. It is filled in electronic format and signed with an EDS. Also, the general contractor will fill out reports on the production of work. And, of course, we will place all payment documents and acts of work performed in the system, that is, it will be clear how much the contractor received and what he actually completed,” explained the Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Samruk-Kazyna Construction.
You can even track whether the supplier behaves in good faith towards its subcontractors. It also eliminates corruption risks. Even if the supplier does not comply with the conditions, the operator of the national project has a safety cushion. When issuing an advance, SK Construction requires suppliers to provide a bank guarantee from 10 to 50%.
"Having this bank guarantee, we can say that this project will not fail," Malgazdarov said.
“There is no question of any lobby”
The company is confident that in order to build educational institutions with high quality and in a timely manner, it is necessary to identify a circle of potential suppliers with extensive experience in construction, including social facilities. This is noted in the tender documentation. One of the requirements is the financial stability of a potential contractor. Gabit Malgazdarov assured that there was no question of any lobby of large companies and could not be. He explained that in order for the project not to fail, large suppliers are needed. And small suppliers have the opportunity to unite in consortiums.
“We say if you want to compete, you don't have to go alone. We made such concessions and, partly because of this, extended the competitive procedures. That is, there can be not only one large company, but also a consortium of several small ones. There is no lobby. It's all open and transparent. Therefore, it is wrong to say that we are lobbying someone's interests. This is not true,” he concluded.