PS lobbied reversal of Market Me contract rejection

As controversy swirls around the award of contracts to Market Me Consulting Limited for the Jamaica Moves campaign led by the Ministry of Health & Wellness, it has been revealed that the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) had rejected the renewal of a multimillion-dollar contract to the company.

The role of the permanent secretary in the awarding of the contracts to Market Me is also under scrutiny.

A document obtained by The Gleaner showed that the PPC did not approve the ministry’s recommendation for an award of contract via the direct contracting methodology for the development and implementation of a social-marketing campaign to support the Jamaica Moves programme.

Jamaica Moves was officially launched in April 2017.

The ministry had attempted to contract Market Me because it had previously provided similar services in the nature of what was required.

The document stated that after the May 2019 refusal of the PPC, Dunstan Bryan, the permanent secretary; Dr Simone Spence, acting director of health promotion and protection; and Trudy Brennan, acting director of procurement, had a meeting with the committee.

This was to further explain the need for the contract to be awarded.

The ministry officials, the document said, pointed out that the ministry was desirous of maintaining the look and feel of the programme as it had seen “positive results” coming from the campaign led by Market Me.

The ministry also argued that if a new firm were to be engaged, “it would be required to use the same branding and continue the programme using the same look and feel but would have to develop new synergies with and support from private sector and other agencies”.

Seemingly convinced by the explanations given, the PPC changed its position and offered no objection to the contract worth $38 million.

The PPC, however, advised the ministry that during the contract period, it should ensure that appropriate measures are put in place so that before its expiry, the ministry will be in a position to go to the open market for a firm.