Sienkevych proposed considering the purchase of ready-built nurseries, which the private sector would construct itself in Mykolaiv

Oleksandr Sienkevych, Mayor of Mykolaiv. Photo: archive NikVesti

The Mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sienkevych, has proposed considering the possibility of purchasing ready-built facilities instead of holding tenders for their construction. As an example, he cited a nursery school that could be built by a private investor and then purchased by the city once completed.

He made these remarks on 29 September during the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI) forum in Kyiv, according to NikVesti.

During his speech, Oleksandr Sienkevych spoke about problems in the field of public procurement, particularly in relation to construction works. According to him, following tenders, attention is often focused on the cost of individual materials used by the winning company.

As an example, the mayor cited the procurement of granite. He noted that when comparing prices for materials, one must take into account where they are produced and where they need to be delivered.

«When tenders take place, the company that wins with the best price is then scrutinised. In other words, did you buy the granite here more cheaply or more expensively? Where is it more expensive than where? More expensive than in Pervomaisk, for example. Well, the fact that there is a granite quarry in Pervomaisk and that there isn’t one in Mykolaiv isn’t really that important,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

The mayor suggested considering a different approach to construction procurement — where the client buys a ready-built structure rather than commissioning its construction.

«Perhaps we need to move towards buying a ready-built facility. In other words, we say: «We need a nursery here». A hypothetical investor builds the nursery, and we simply buy it. And the price is not for the work carried out, but for the nursery itself. This is also something we need to think about,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

The mayor also noted that he has experience working with design and cost estimate documentation. According to him, whilst working in the private sector, he undertook relevant training in Dnipro and obtained certification as an AVK cost estimator.

It should be recalled that Oleksandr Sienkevych had previously spoken about the need to control prices in municipal procurement. In May 2024, he told NikVesti about plans to create a public database of prices for building materials, which was to be used when drawing up cost estimates. At the time, the mayor also explained that the cost of crushed stone or sand in Mykolaiv might be higher than in Pervomaisk due to delivery costs.

Furthermore, Sienkevych had previously instructed budget administrators to publish contracts and cost estimates for capital and routine repairs on the Prozorro platform, as well as to report monthly on compliance with this directive.