Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has an inspection in the works regarding a procurement procedure of protective face masks, as confirmed by KNAB.
KNAB does not provide comments on any specific procurement procedure inspections. The bureau also does not reveal which institution’s organized procurement is in question. «To avoid influencing or undermining the inspection, KNAB does not provide detailed information about it or private or legal persons involved,» the bureau notes.
KNAB notes the bureau actively follows and analyses information regarding public procurements, including ones organized to limit the spread of COVID-19, for healthcare and organization of different events.
As previously reported, at the beginning of COVID-19 crisis the National Health Service received criticisms about procurement of protective gear.
In July, State Audit reported having turned to law enforcement institutions about NVD’s procurement of gear in March.
In its audit State Audit evaluated the procurement procedure of protective gear – face masks and respirators from March to April.
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Auditors concluded in multiple cases there had been arbitrary decision-making during procurement processes. Additionally, experts there has been a lack of transparency in regards to justifications behind evaluation criteria, which suggests possible corruption risks.
According to the government’s approved rules, procurement of protective gear was to be performed by the National Defense Military Facilities and Procurement Center before the end of 9 June. Soon after the declaration of the state of emergency, Latvia’s government decided this centre would organize centralized procurements of protective gear for the needs of state institutions.
