The National Procurement Authority (NPA) has reached out to 13 companies for quotations on electronic equipment for the Independent Election Commission (IEC).

Their request sent out to 13 different companies, in the US, Europe and UAE, has not been put out to public tender. 

In a letter to each company, the NPA has asked for prices of various devices. The value of the contract is $16 million USD. 

According to the letter, the NPA has asked for prices of computers, cameras for computers, finger print machines, backdrops for cameras, printers, tools boxes and solar energy devices. The authority has said it needs 6,500 units of each.

“In some cases, it is possible to use a limited tender process due to limited time. But anyway, I can say for sure that the national procurement law has been observed,” said Maazullah Dawlati, an IEC commissioner.

He said the process was started on Tuesday and that no company has been selected as yet.

“The procurement process of the technology has started today. The technology will be used in the voter registration process,” Dawlati added.

Electoral observers meanwhile criticized the way the NPA has decided to purchase the equipment. 

They suggested that the process needs to be put out to public tender due to the importance of the electoral process.

Observers have also questioned the fact that these hand-picked companies have not been named and that the expertise to operate and maintain the equipment would be lacking. 

“First, I doubt the quality of the equipment which will be purchased. Second, I doubt the management of the equipment by the Independent Election Commission. Third, I doubt the impartiality of the winning company,” said Naeem Ayubzada, chairman of Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan.

He said the IEC had purchased similar equipment for previous elections.