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DIRECTIVES

The Namibia Council for Architects and Quantity Surveyors has been given the mandate by the Minister of Finance to issue GOOD STANDING CERTIFICATES for practices  instead of BIPA. Please find attached the directive to public entities by the Ministry of Finance.

MINISTRY OF FINANCE GIVES NCAQS MANDATE TO ISSUE COMPANY REGISTRATION

It has come to the attention of the Namibia Council for Architects and Quantity Surveyors that some members practicing in the style of practice of PARTNERSHIPS, SOLE PROPRIETORS and TRADING AS, are being disqualified by the procurement committees of public entities as these practices cannot be registered with BIPA.

The Namibia Council for Architects and Quantity Surveyors has been given the mandate by the Minister of Finance to issue GOOD STANDING CERTIFICATES for practices instead of BIPA. Please find attached the directive to public entities by the Ministry of Finance.

We therefore urge member to use the enclosed application form and submit all required information in order to obtain a NEW GOOD STANDING CERTIFCATE. All previously issued GOOD STADING CERTIFICATES issued by NCAQS will not be able to be used on public procurement bids.

Members are urged to note the disclaimer on the GOOD STANDING CERTIFICATE

Disclaimer: This Good standing Certificate does not supercede any requirements of the Public Procurement Act of 2015 and its regulations. Members are still required to submit all mandatory documents as per the requirement of section 50(2) of the Act.

Application form can be downloaded at here

MEMBERS TO ADHERE TO THE MINIMUM TARRIFF OF FEES AS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT NOTICE 6 OCTOBER 1998, No. 250

The NCAQS wishes to inform its members that the board is working with the PPU (Public Procurement Unit) to educate the various public entities, etc in preparing bids for the acquisition of services by architects and/or quantity surveyors and/or capital projects. It has come to the attention of the NCAQS, that some of its members are preparing and submitting financial bids that are below the minimum prescribed fees as published in Government Notice 6 October 1998 No.250, when bidding for bids under the Public Procurement Act 2015.

It has also come to the attention of the NCAQS, that the terms and reference of public bids (as prepared by the public entities themselves) for the acquisition of services by architects and/or quantity surveyors and/or procurement of capital projects are vague and unclear with regard to various elements of a capital project.  

That, being said, members of the NCAQS, are urged not to transgress the requirements of the Architects and Quantity Surveyors Act 1978 (Act 13 of 1979) in particular the minimum prescribed tariff of fees when bidding on public entities bids.

 The NCAQS recommends that members use the minimum tariff of fees in compiling financial bids and include the Government Notice 6 October 1998 No.250 as part of the documentation submitted for financial bids. This will ensure that public entities become aware that architect and quantity surveyors are governed by their own Act. This will also ensure that members are not transgressing the Architects and Quantity Surveyors Act 1978 (Act 13 of 1979).

Failing which the NCAQS has the authority to enforce compliance and punish those who are in breach of this. 

Enclosed please find the correspondence received by the NCAQS from the Honorable Minister of Finance, Mr Ipumbu Shiimi.

ENGINEERING COUNCIL OF NAMIBIA AND NCAQS 
JOINT PUBLIC STATEMENT -

ENFORCEMENT OF GAZETTED TARIFFS OF FEES FOR ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS AND QUANTITY SURVEYORS IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

The South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) enters into Mutual Recognition Agreement with the Namibia Council for Architects and Quantity Surveyors