After the review of large public procurements in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT), individual officials may face accountability. This was stated by the Prime Minister of Latvia, Andris Kulbergs, noting that the findings from the review may emerge soon.
According to the head of the government, final decisions will be made after the assessment of the materials is completed.
“If we have clear evidence and the necessary materials, and I believe that will happen soon, then we will see,” said Kulbergs.
The Prime Minister reminded that after the introduction of a moratorium on large ICT procurements, three projects were submitted to the government. Two of them are planned to be presented to the Cabinet of Ministers, while additional information was requested for one.
At the same time, the working group continues to analyze the existing procurement system and prepares proposals for changing the rules.
According to Kulbergs, the current system still carries serious risks related to project management and possible corruption manifestations. In particular, this concerns insufficient control over the cost of IT services and the expenditure of budget funds.
The Prime Minister believes that today the state lacks effective mechanisms to assess the justification of ICT project costs at the preparation stage. This is why the government intends to change its approach to controlling such procurements.
It is expected that projects will be divided by risk levels, and the most expensive and complex initiatives will undergo enhanced scrutiny.
One of the key changes should be greater transparency in the public procurement system. By the end of the year, the authorities aim to ensure public access to information about all stages of project implementation — from planned expenditures and contract signing to payments made. As an example, Kulbergs cited Lithuania, where such information is already available to the public.
At the same time, the Prime Minister emphasized that the introduced moratorium is not aimed at stopping ICT procurements for a long time. Its purpose is to review existing procedures and reduce the risks of ineffective spending of public funds.
Earlier, Kulbergs imposed a one-month moratorium on large ICT procurements costing over 142,000 euros. During this time, relevant ministries and responsible agencies were instructed to prepare proposals for improving the electronic procurement system and enhancing control over the implementation of ICT projects.
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