Reference is made to the article written by George Mangion, a partner at PKF, entitled “SMEs: be cautious of government tenders” (TMIS, 2 February).

This was the sixth in a string of full-page articles, using SME issues to cloak a complaint against the Central Bank of Malta. They have appeared in various newspapers, penned alternately by either George Mangion and by a lawyer at PKF, reusing the same complaint against the bank for not awarding the Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS) tender to PKF.

Price was an important criterion for the award of the HFCS tender. However, the facts are that PKF was found to lack the technical capabilities to undertake the survey properly, and it failed for that reason. The Central Bank of Malta needed to be assured that the survey would be carried out in the appropriate manner, and the bid in question failed to meet minimum acceptable standards in this respect.  

Once again, the author also implicates the Central Bank’s Deputy Governor in the award of the tender. Once more, the bank repeats that the Deputy Governor was not involved in the decision of the Evaluation Panel. 

The Central Bank’s evaluation of the HFCS tender was conducted in a thorough and objective manner. Unfortunately, this article like its predecessors suggests that those writing on behalf of the company may be unable to rise to the same standards. For the sixth time, doubts may arise about the author’s capacity to understand the significance of failing to meet the minimum required standards.

Stephen Attard

Head

Communications Department

Central Bank of Malta