In September 2025, the Kano State Drugs and Medical Consumables Supply Agency (DMCSA) launched its 11th Tender Evaluation Exercise, a critical milestone in the state’s annual procurement cycle. This initiative plays a vital role in ensuring that citizens have continuous access to affordable, quality-assured medicines and medical consumables.
To enhance transparency, fairness, and efficiency in the evaluation process, CIPS – Health Procurement Africa (HPA) Nigeria Programme was invited to provide technical support. The workshop, held from 17–23 September at Butterfly Garden & Suites in Kaduna, brought together a multidisciplinary team of experts in pharmacy, medical sciences, public procurement, and finance.
Embedding Best Practices in Procurement
CIPS HPA’s involvement focused on integrating international best-practice procurement tools and methodologies into the evaluation process. Their support included:
- Applying ABC analysis to categorise products into Class A (high-value critical commodities), Class B, and Class C, enabling more strategic and informed award decisions.
- Fixing prices for Class A products for the first quarter, with plans for quarterly call offs to manage price volatility.
- Providing a comprehensive 2024–2025 tender performance report, which offered insights into supplier delivery performance and guided the committee in selecting credible and compliant vendors.
- Ensuring full compliance with the Kano State Public Procurement Law, while reinforcing ethics, integrity, and accountability.
Driving Strategic Action
Under the guidance of CIPS HPA Procurement Expert, Mr. Julius Oni, the evaluation committee undertook several key actions:
- Analysed supplier performance data from the previous cycle, identifying high-performing and underperforming vendors to inform contract renewals and replacements.
- Conducted ABC analysis to stabilise supply for critical commodities and manage less critical items more flexibly.
- Facilitated the signing of conflict-of-interest and code-of-conduct declarations by all panel members, reinforcing ethical standards.
- Used standardised scoring tools and templates, previously validated in earlier workshops, to ensure consistency and fairness in bid assessments.
- Supported bid evaluation sessions and the preliminary award process, ensuring that decisions were data-driven and transparent.
Results That Matter
The impact of these interventions was significant:
- The tender performance report proved instrumental in guiding supplier selection, prioritising reliability and compliance.
- The ABC categorisation streamlined procurement decisions, reducing risks associated with price fluctuations and ensuring timely delivery of essential commodities.
- The quarterly call-off strategy for Class A products introduced a more agile and cost-effective procurement model.
- CIPS tools and ethical frameworks were institutionalised, embedding global best practices into Kano’s procurement system.
A New Benchmark for Procurement Governance
The 2025 evaluation exercise has set a new standard for transparency, fairness, and strategic procurement in Kano State’s health sector. By combining data-driven insights with ethical governance, the DMCSA is building a more resilient and efficient supply chain — one that better serves the health needs of its citizens.
This collaboration between DMCSA and CIPS HPA not only strengthens procurement outcomes but also lays the foundation for long-term improvements in supplier performance and public trust.