Tiwai Memory Masters Ltd (TMM) has suffered a major setback in its challenge against the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI), after the Independent Procurement Review Panel (IPRP) dismissed its complaint and upheld the 88.86% technical score awarded to the company in the World Bank-funded GWAN/GLAN procurement process.
In a ruling dated October 6, 2026, the IPRP concluded that the score awarded to TMM was “fair and correct” and that deductions made by the Evaluation Committee were supported by deficiencies identified in the company’s own technical proposal and measured against the rated criteria contained in the Request for Proposals (RFP).
The dispute arose from the procurement for the supply, installation, implementation and support of Government Wide Area Networks (GWAN) and Government Local Area Networks (GLANs) across Ministries, Departments and Agencies under the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project.
TMM had challenged the Evaluation Committee’s 88.86% technical score after conducting its own assessment and concluding that its proposal deserved approximately 96%. The company subsequently sought redress from the IPRP, arguing that the procuring entity had failed to adequately explain the basis for specific deductions and scores assigned to its proposal.
However, following a review of documentary evidence and oral submissions from both sides, the independent Panel rejected TMM’s arguments and confirmed the Evaluation Committee’s score.
“The mark allocated to the Complainant was fair and correct, taking into account all the arithmetic calculations and the evaluation process carried out,” the Panel ruled.
It further concluded that “each deduction is supported by deficiencies documented in the Complainant’s own proposal and measured against the rated criteria of the RFP.”
During the proceedings, the Respondent presented detailed explanations for deductions relating to inconsistent vendor terminology and equipment models, generic security and high-availability plans, inadequate differentiation between GLAN requirements for small, medium and large organisations, insufficient device-level architecture details and weaknesses in regional metro-network coverage and resilience.
Among the issues highlighted was TMM’s proposed regional fibre network. According to the Respondent’s submissions recorded in the ruling, TMM designed approximately 61.4 kilometres of fibre against the 208 kilometres specified in the RFB and omitted Port Loko entirely. The proposal was also said to lack a list of MDAs to be connected and adequate redundancy capable of meeting the required failover standard.
Other concerns included conflicting equipment model numbers, missing technical information and sections of the proposal said to contain material relating to other vendors or projects.
Despite these identified weaknesses, TMM was not disqualified. The Evaluation Committee instead deducted marks under the relevant rated criteria while crediting the company in areas where its proposal demonstrated strengths.
In a dramatic development during its independent review, the IPRP also raised serious concerns over information relating to one of the personnel presented by TMM.
The Panel questioned the curriculum vitae of Rashid Abu, whom it said was presented by TMM as having been in the company’s employment for the past 10 years. According to the ruling, the Panel found that Abu was working for the Central Bank of Sierra Leone and questioned how he could simultaneously be in full-time employment with TMM.
“We found that Rashid Abu working for the Central Bank of Sierra Leone cannot at the same time be in a full-time employment with the Complainant,” the Panel stated.
The IPRP went further, declaring that the “singular act save for the rest is tantamount to fraud and must be stopped immediately.”
The Panel also reprimanded TMM representative Mohamed A. Turay over what it described as derogatory remarks allegedly directed at the Respondent and subsequently at the Panel itself during the proceedings.
According to the ruling, Turay’s remarks appeared to question the integrity of the Panel by predicting the outcome of the hearing. The IPRP warned him to desist from such conduct, stressing that proceedings before the Panel must remain civil and decent.
The Panel nevertheless made clear that its ruling was not influenced by Turay’s remarks, stating that its decision was based on the documents presented, oral submissions and the applicable law.
Following its findings, the IPRP dismissed TMM’s complaint and formally confirmed the 88.86 out of 100 technical score, effectively vindicating MoCTI and the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project on the central question of whether the company had been unfairly scored.
The Panel also lifted with immediate effect any suspension of the procurement process arising from the complaint and directed the Respondent to continue with the opening of financial proposals and eventual award of the contract in accordance with the RFP and applicable procurement regulations.
TMM nevertheless remains eligible to proceed to the next stage of the procurement process, meaning the dismissal of its complaint does not amount to its disqualification from the tender.
The IPRP also underscored the importance of the World Bank-funded project to Sierra Leone, expressing concern that the dispute should not jeopardise an initiative expected to deliver significant benefits to the country.
The October 6 ruling therefore brings TMM’s challenge to the 88.86% technical score to an end before the Panel, while clearing the way for the procurement process to proceed to its next stage.
