Buy Ready-Made Kindergartens Instead of Commissioning Construction: Senkevych’s Idea for Mykolaiv

The mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sienkevych, proposed considering the purchase of already completed buildings as a possible alternative to construction tenders. He cited a kindergarten as an example of this approach. The mayor shared the idea on September 29 in Kyiv, during a forum organized by the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI).

“Perhaps we need to move toward buying a finished facility. That is, we say: ‘We need a kindergarten here.’ Some hypothetical investor builds a kindergarten, and then we buy it. And the price is for the kindergarten, not for the completion of the work. This is something we should think about too,” said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

During his remarks, the mayor also raised issues with public procurement, particularly the procurement of construction work. He used granite as an example to explain:

“When tenders are held, the company that wins with the best price is then subjected to scrutiny. For example, you bought granite here for less or more. Where is it more expensive, and compared with where? More expensive than in Pervomaisk, for instance. Well, the fact that there is a granite quarry in Pervomaisk and none in Mykolaiv is not considered very important,” noted Oleksandr Sienkevych.

In the mayor’s view, when assessing differences in material costs, it is necessary to take into account where they are produced and where they need to be delivered.

Sienkevych also shared his experience working with project and estimate documentation. While working in business, he completed relevant training in Dnipro and received AVK cost estimator certification.

The mayor also raised the issue of price controls in city procurement in May 2024. At the time, he spoke of plans to create a public database of construction material prices, which would be used to prepare cost estimates. He also explained that, due to transportation costs, crushed stone or sand may cost more in Mykolaiv than in Pervomaisk.

In addition, Sienkevych required budget administrators to publish contracts and cost estimates for capital and routine repairs in the Prozorro system. They are required to report on compliance with this directive every month.

We previously reported:

• Sidewalk repairs delayed: Mykolaiv contractor faces a claim for more than UAH 1.3 million
• Nearly UAH 6 million already paid for a kindergarten shelter in Mykolaiv region, with another UAH 3.7 million planned
• Mykolaiv’s water utility saved more than UAH 50 million on procurement
• A UAH 3.4 million solar power station is expected to provide backup power to Mykolaiv Lyceum No. 55
• Nearly UAH 1 million to be spent on a square opposite the administration building in Mykolaiv’s Korabelnyi district