MPA rolls out corrective actions following Auditor-General's findings

Four actions were implemented to address concerns from state auditors.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has implemented corrective actions to address the findings made by the Auditor-General's Office regarding tender and payment processes.

Amongst the findings in the Auditor-General’s Report Financial Year 2024/25 are possible lapses in contract management and procurement at the maritime agency.

The report noted that in one tender evaluation, the scores took into account documentation from a tenderer’s subsidiary to evaluate the company’s overall capabilities, even though the role of the subsidiary had not been specified in the tenderer’s submission.

MPA stated that it has updated its evaluation protocols to consider the capabilities of entities within the tenderers’ group, provided these are clearly declared in the tender documents.

The report also found that six operational service contracts in which payments were made without adequate checks to verify that services had been delivered as required.

To address this, MPA said it has reviewed and confirmed service delivery for these contracts through logs and supporting records. Measures were also implemented to ensure proper checks and verification of supporting documentation are done before future payments are approved.

Authorities also pointed out that the MPA has been collecting fees for marine dumping and monitoring services without the required legislation.

“MPA is taking steps to amend legislation to address the issue, and to give legal effect for past fees collected,” the agency said.

On the implementation of two types of port dues concessions without formally prescribing them in legislation, MPA said it is reviewing these schemes and will prescribe them in law if these concessions are continued.