(1) The Public Procurement Office must, in accordance with this Act—
(a) promote compliance with this Act by procuring institutions;
(b) develop, and support the implementation of, necessary measures to maintain the integrity of procurement;
(c) guide and support officials and procuring institutions to ensure compliance with this Act and in doing so—
(i) provide advice and assistance to procuring institutions; and
(ii) ensure the professional development and training of officials involved in procurement;
(d) develop, and support the implementation of, measures to ensure transparency in procurement;
(e) promote standardisation in procurement;
(f) promote the use of technology and innovation and learning towards modernisation of the public procurement system;
(g) monitor and oversee the implementation of this Act;
(h) intervene by taking appropriate steps to address a material breach of this Act by a procuring institution as may be prescribed;
(i) create, maintain and publish one or more databases to facilitate the implementation of this Act; and
(j) perform any other duties imposed by this Act.
(2) The Public Procurement Office may, in accordance with this Act—
(a) in relation to procuring institutions, except municipalities and municipal entities, issue, by notice in the Gazette, binding instructions as provided for in this Act and on any other procurement matter for the effective implementation of this Act;
(b) in relation to municipalities and municipal entities, issue non-binding circulars, on the subject of an instruction, provided for in this Act, and any other matter for the effective implementation of this Act;
(c) issue guidelines to assist procuring institutions with the implementation of this Act and any other procurement related matter;
(d) after consultation with the relevant category of procuring institutions, determine a model procurement policy for different categories of procuring institutions and different categories of procurement, which a procuring institution may adopt, with or without amendments, or not adopt; and
(e) exercise other powers conferred by this Act.
(3) The Public Procurement Office may issue different instructions in terms of subsection (2) for—
(a) different categories of procuring institutions; and
(b) different categories of procurement.
(4) A circular referred to in subsection (2)(b) will be binding on—
(a) a municipality, if adopted by its council; or
(b) a municipal entity, if adopted by the council of the entity’s parent municipality.