The Federal Board of Revenue has formed new committees to make sure its buying and hiring process is fair and open under its Transformation Plan for the year 2026-27. The move was announced in a notification on Monday.
The FBR has set up four committees. The Procurement Committee handles the main buying process. The Technical and Financial Evaluation Committee checks bids and proposals. The Physical Inspection Committee checks delivered goods and services. The Grievance Redressal Committee listens to complaints from bidders.
These committees will look after every step of procurement. This includes checking if something is actually needed, preparing tender documents, evaluating bids, awarding contracts, checking delivered goods, and handling complaints from bidders. All work will be done under the Public Procurement Rules, 2004.
The main Procurement Committee will be led by Member (Administration/HR). Other members include Member (Audit/CRM), Member (Customs Operations), Chief (Administration & Finance) and Secretary (Administration). The chair can also add more members if needed. The committee can approve purchases both before the bidding starts and after the bid evaluation report is ready. It will decide whether a purchase is really needed, approve the evaluation report, and award the contract to the best bidder. At least two-thirds of the members must be present for a meeting to go ahead.
The Technical and Financial Evaluation Committee will be led by Member (IR-Operations). It will prepare tender documents and make sure the rules for judging bids match the type, size, risk and value of each purchase. It will also decide how to approach the market, what method to use for selection, and what specifications are needed. The committee will open and check all bids. Financial bids will be checked under Rules 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Rules and PPRA rules.
If more information is needed from a bidder, the procurement specialist will handle the coordination. But no one can ask for or allow any change in the price or the main content of a bid. Also, a bid that has been rejected as non-responsive cannot later be made acceptable by changing it or adding outside information. Anyone involved in the process, including bidders, consultants or evaluators, must immediately report in writing if they have a conflict of interest. A member found to have a conflict will be replaced. The evaluation committee also needs a two-thirds quorum.
The Physical Inspection Committee, led by Chief (IR-Operations), will check that goods, equipment and services delivered match the required specifications. It will also make sure goods are stored and supplied properly, and that the correct quantities are delivered.
The Grievance Redressal Committee will be led by Member (IR-Legal). Its members include Member (IR-Policy), Member (Legal & Accounting Customs), Director General (IT & DT), relevant management and HR secretaries, and an expert chosen by the chair. The committee will listen to unhappy bidders, study their complaints, and give recommendations for final decisions. It can specifically decide on complaints about technical and financial evaluation reports. It will write a formal report explaining why a complaint was accepted or rejected, and can add members with special expertise if needed.
The new committee system will apply to all FBR procurements under the Transformation Plan during FY2026-27. The competent authority can also give these committees other procurement work from time to time.
