What should the RME do to ensure ethical and fair procurement?

• A. Ensure transparency, conform to procurement laws, avoid favoritism, and document evaluation criteria and decisions
• B. Favor known bidders
• C. Do not document decisions
• D. Cut corners to speed procurement

Answer: (A)

Ethical and fair procurement hinges on running a process that is open, lawful, and unbiased, with a clear record of how decisions are made. Transparency means bidders understand what the evaluation criteria are, how their bids will be compared, and how outcomes are communicated. Compliance with procurement laws ensures the process follows established rules, reduces legal risk, and protects public interest. Avoiding favoritism guarantees every eligible bidder has a fair chance, supporting genuine competition and delivering better value. Documenting the evaluation criteria and each decision creates a verifiable trail, so the process can be reviewed and accountability is maintained.

Choices that prioritize favors for known bidders, skip documenting decisions, or cut corners to speed things up undermine fairness, reduce accountability, and can breach laws or undermine value.