RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
2December 1996
ORGANIZATION
(96-5056)
Original: English Working Party onGATS Rules
COMMUNICATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
AND THEIR MEMBER STATES
Response totheQuestionnaire onGovernment Procurement ofServices
Thefollowing communication isbeing circulated attherequest oftheEuropean Communities
andtheirMember States toMembers oftheWorking Party onGATS Rules.
_____________
Introductory Comments
1. Theanswers tothequestionnaire ongovernment procurement ofservices explain theregime
which isapplicable atEuropean Community levelbased onthegeneral principles ofnon-discrimination,
aslaiddown intheECTreaty andthedirectives taken toimplement these principles atCommunity
level(so-called secondary legislation).
2. Intheanswers, Member States specify thewayinwhich theyhaveimplemented theCommunity
regime atnational levelaswellasexplaining, totheextent relevant, thenational rulesthattheyhave
governing theprocurement ofcontracts below theCommunity thresholds. Since notallMember States
havespecific orseparate rules forcontracts below threshold, notallMember States haveresponded
toallquestions.
3. Member States arecitedbythefollowing abbreviations:
A Austria IRL Ireland
B Belgium L Luxembourg
D Germany NL TheNetherlands
DK Denmark P Portugal
E Spain S Sweden
EL Greece SF Finland
F France UK United Kingdom
I Italy
4. Noanswers havebeenprovided tothequestions under point 12duetothelackofaccurate
andrelevant data. Thisistoberegretted while atthesame timeitisnoted thatmany Members are
inasimilar situation. Thelackofstatistics atthisstageshould beseenasanincentive toengage better
inthispartofthework.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page2
I. EXISTING PROCUREMENT REGIMES
Definition
1. What isthedefinition ofgovernment procurement employed incompleting thisquestionnaire?
Government procurement covers written contracts forpecuniary interest awarded bypublic
authorities, semi-public bodies andthe"utilities" which supply water, energy, transport and
telecommunications services within thescope oftheEuropean Community legal provisions
concerned.
Theentities inquestion aresubject toacommon EC-wide regime forprocurement above certain
threshold values. There areseventeen categories ofservices (including construction services)
aresubject toalltheobligations contained intherelevant legislation. Therules concerning
procurement under thethreshold values aredefined bynational law,inaccordance withthe
general principles oflawlaiddown intheECTreaties.
Administrative structure
2. Howaregovernment procurement activities administered? Towhatextent areprocurement
activities centralised? Please specify theidentity ofanycentral procurement agencies and
theirrespective responsibilities .
Administration ofpublic procurement activities varies according tothetypeofprocurement,
thecontracting entity anditscountry oflocation.
-A. Procurement activities arenotcentralised; eachoftheindividual government agencies
isresponsible foritsownprocurement ofgoods andservices.
-B. Legislation ongovernment procurement isfederal, however, theresponsibility ofthe
award andexecution ofcontracts remains oneachcontracting entity, following thelaws,
regulations orother legaltexts. Therefore, thereisnospecialised central agency fortheaward
ofpublic contracts.
-D. Inprinciple allauthorities procure intheirownresponsibility, sopublic procurement
activities arebasically decentralised. Central purchasing istheexception andisonlyexecuted
bytheprocurement department oftheMinistry oftheInterior forthedemand oftheMinistry
(BMI), procurement department ofthearmy forthedemand ofthearmed forces, procurement
department oftheLand Hesse forthedemand oftheLand Hesse.
-DK. ThestructureofthepublicprocurementintheDanishsystemisessentiallyadecentralised
one,bothatcentral government, regional andlocallevel. Within thedifferent authorities, the
degree ofindependence ofthevarious subdivisions (agencies, institutions etc.)varies between
arelatively highdegree ofindependence insome instances andarelatively highdegree of
centralisation inother.
A100pctpublicly owned company, 'National Procurement Denmark Ltd'(Statens og
Kommunersnes Indkøbsservice A/S)offers thepossibility toprocure viaframework contracts
which havebeensubmitted fortender. There is,however, noobligation onpublic institutions
toprocure viathese framework contracts. Thedegree of-voluntary- useofthisalternative
to'direct 'procurement onthebasis ofacontract between apublic authority andasupplier
variesfromareatoarea.The'NationalProcurementDenmark'cannotbesaidtohaveadominantS/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page3
position inanysegment oftheDanish public procurement market. Similar cooperation
arrangements onprocurement havebeenentered intobysome regional andlocalauthorities.
-E. Public procurement activities areadministered following therules contained inthe
relevant laws, regulations andadministrative provisions. These activities aredecentralized.
Each contracting authority procures onitsown. Only particular purchases declared tobeof
common interest bytheStatearecentralized. Thepurchasing bodies oftheState(Administración
General delEstado )are:Ministerial Departments, autonomous bodies andentities ruled under
Public Law(including universities). Thepurchasing bodies oftheRegional subdivisions
(Comunidades Autónomas )are:seventeen Regions andtwotowns within thesame regime,
which haveasystem similar tothatofthecentral State: Departments (Consejerías ),autonomous
bodies andentities ruled under Public Law(including universities). Thepurchasing authorities
atlocallevel(Administración local)are:Provincial Institutions (Diputaciones Provinciales ),
Municipalities(Ayuntamientos),entitiesconstitutedbyseveralmunicipalities,autonomousbodies
andentities under public law,aslongastheyexist.
-EL. According totheHellenic Administrative System, thelegislation onpublic works
contracts anddesigns fallintothecompetence oftheGeneral Secretariat ofPublic Works of
theMinistry ofEnvironment, Physical Planning andPublic Works. TheGovernment intends
toimplement Directive n°92/50 onPublic Procurement ofServices andassign therelevant
competence totheMinistry ofNational Economy. Directive 93/38, concerning
telecommunications, energy, water andtransports sectors hasnotbeenincorporated inthe
Hellenic legislation yet,duetoaperiod oftransition, ending on1January 1998.
-F. ContractsconcludedbytheStateareprepared,awardedandsignedbyhighlevelofficials
specially authorised. Empowered toaward public contracts, ontheonehand, arethedirectors
ofthecentral administrations (around 200), ontheotherhand, theadministrative chiefs (Préfets )
ofRegions andProvinces (Départements ).Public contracts awarded bythelocal entities
(municipalities andgroups ofmunicipalities, around 36.000; provinces: around 150;regions:
26),orthenational public establishments (around 800)orlocalpublic establishments (around
8.000)areawardedbythelegalrepresentativeoftheentityconcerned(mayor,president,director
general). Public contracts awarded bypublic enterprises orprivate onesthathavespecial or
exclusive rights (directive 93/38) aresigned bythepresident orthedirector soauthorised by
theenterprise.
Government andParliament adopt therelevant legislation which isapplied bytheterritorial
entities andthepublic establishments, without theintervention ofthestateofficials. However,
stateservices control theapplication ofpublic procurement legislation bythecontracting entities
andcan,ifnecessary, takeaction before thecompetent judge inorder tofinalise thealleged
infringement.
-IRL. Government procurement inIreland ismainly organised onthebasisofthedelegation
ofresponsibility toeachindividual Contracting Authority, which cancomprise ofGovernment
Departments andOffices; localauthorities; autonomous public health andeducational bodies
andother bodies coming within thedefinition ofthepublic sector byvirtue ofEUornational
rules. Public procurement activities arenottherefore centralised toanyappreciable extent.
There isasmall amount ofcentralised purchasing within abodyknown astheOffice ofPublic
Works (works contracts forcentral government agencies, parks, museums, inland waterways
andcertain tourist facilities). Adivision ofthisoffice, known astheGovernment Supplies
Agency hasacentralised procurement function forcentral government agencies, including the
police, inrespect ofclothing, fuel,vehicles, printing, publishing andfurniture. AspaymastersS/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page4
tolocalauthorities andhealth agencies respectively, theDepartments oftheEnvironment and
Health haveconsiderable influence overprocurement inthese bodies, butnotacentralized
procurement role.
Allother procurement iscarried outbytheindividual Contracting authorities asreferred to
above withtheexception ofoccasional combined purchasing arrangements between regional
andhealth bodies forindividual contracts.
-L. Public procurement isnotcentralised; each contracting entity conducts itsown
procurement. Contracting entities arethecentral authorities, localauthorities, intercommunale
entities, public establishments orprivate entities (utilities). Themost important contracting
entityistheMinistryofPublicWorks,whichisalsocompetentforpublicprocurementlegislation
andimplementation oftheECdirectives.
-NL. Dutch procurement policy andactivities aredecentralised, i.e.eachentity isresponsible
foritsownprocurement andobservance ofapplicable regulation. There isnocentral legislation
onprocurement ofservices contracts other thanrequired bytheECdirectives. TheMinistry
ofEconomic Affairs isresponsible fortransposition ofinternational regulations intonational
legislation andprovides information ontheapplication thereof. Contracting entities areindicated
inannexes totheGPA andtotheEC-directives.
-P. Government procurement ofservices isnotcentralized byaspecific entity.
-S. Every public authority, utility orenterprise, foundation, association etc.which has
beenspecified under question 1constitutes anindividual procurer. Theprocurers areresponsible
fortheirownprocurement andforfollowing theprevailing rulesforprocurement. InSweden
thereishowever acertain decree ofcoordination ofstateprocurement. TheSwedish National
Audit Office (Riksrevisonsverket )authorizes various public authorities tosignframework
agreements forthegovernment. These framework agreements arenotbinding andhence
voluntary fortheprocurers. Thepossibility ofsubordering fromthese agreements islimited
toauthorities which legally belong tothegovernment. Public enterprises therefore cannot use
theframework agreements.
InSweden, Nämnden föroffentlig upphandling (NOU) isapublic authority employing nine
people, ofwhom sixarelegaladvisors. NOU supervises allpublic procurement inSweden
asdefined inthelawonpublic procurement (LOU) andintherulesofGPAandGATT. NOU
maycollect allnecessary information fromtheprocurers tocarry outitstask.Theinformation
should normally besubmitted inwritten formbutmay(duetotheextent ofthematerial, haste
orother circumstances) alsobecollected through aphysical visitbytheauthority 'sofficials.
NOU cannot impose sanctions ifitfinds thattheprocurer hasviolated thelawonpublic
procurement. However, itcould takeadecision which latercould beinvoked inaprocess on
indemnity inthedistrict court.
-SF. TheMinistry ofTrade andIndustry hasanoverall responsibility forpublic procurement
legislation inFinland. However, government procurement activities aredecentralised inthe
sense thateachcontracting entity isresponsible foritsownprocurement practices.
-UK. IntheUKthere isnonational procurement system andprior totheimplementation
oftheECrulestherewasnoUKlegislation. Procurement isconducted under value formoney
policy, which ensures non-discrimination. Central advice onprocurement policy isprovided
byHMTreasury 'sCentral UnitonProcurement, butgovernment departments, localauthorities
andpublic sector utilities areeachresponsible fortheir ownprocurement. DepartmentalS/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page5
expenditure issubject toscrutiny byParliament 'sPublic Account Committee, through the
National Audit Office. Local authorities aresubject tospecific legislation ontheirprocurement
andaresubject toscrutiny bytheAudit Commission. Asignificant element ofdepartmental
procurement expenditure ismade through, orwith theadvice of,thefollowing Central
Purchasing Agencies: HerMajesty 'sStationery Office (HMSO), theCentral Office of
Information (COI), theBuying Agency (TBA), theGovernment Centre forInformation Systems
(CCTA), butdepartments arefreewhether tousetheirservices ornot.
Laws andregulations inforce
3.(a) Please specify thelaws, regulations, rules, guidelines, decrees, decisions andother measures
governing government procurement. What isthescope oftheirapplication? Inparticular,
please describe anyexemptions thatexists. Please provide abrief summary ofthecontent
ofeachofthese measures.
(i) AtE.C. level, general public procurement rules stemfrom theRome Treaty. Those
rules havebeencompleted byseveral Community Directives, specially withrespect
toprocedural requirements.
ThemainE.C.Treaty articles having consequences forpublic procurement arearticles
6(nondiscrimination ongrounds ofnationality principle), 30&seq.(thebanon
quantitative restrictions onimports andallmeasures having equivalent effect), 52&
seq.(theright toestablishment intheterritory ofanother Member State) and59&
seq.(freedom toprovide services).
Secondary legislation applies those general principles toconcrete matters. Thus, there
isagroup ofCouncil Directives laying down procedures withrespect toPublic
Procurement. These directives needimplementation atnational levelandtheirpurpose
istoharmonize theprocedures tobefollowed ineachMember Statewhenever acontract
istobeawarded whose value exceeds acertain threshold.
Forcontracts below thethreshold, national rulesarenotbound bytheECdirectives,
though thegeneral rulesoftheTreaty stillapply. Thismeans that,below thethreshold,
national rulesarenotuniform, soeachMember Statehasitsownpublic procurement
rules which must onlyrespect thegeneral principles laiddown intheTreaty, in
particular non-discrimination inrespect ofgoods andservices.
Thedirectives fallintotwogroups, those governing thetraditional areas ofpublic
procurement (Public Authorities directives ortraditional sectors directives), andthose
dealing withwater, energy, transport andtelecommunications (Utilities directives or
"excluded" sectors directives). Bothgroups arecompleted bytwoRemedies directives.
Althoughtheydifferinanumberofrespects,bothgroupsapplythefollowingprinciples:
abanondiscrimination; open access toallECsuppliers, transparency ofaward
procedures; aprecise indication ofwhich ofthepermissible award procedures hasbeen
chosen; compliance withtechnical requirements andtransparency oftheprocedures
ofselecting contractors andawarding contracts, through theuseofobjective criteria
which must beknown beforehand.
(ii) ThePublic Authorities Directives: contracting authorities within thesense ofthose
directives aretheState, Regional orLocal authorities, andbodies governed bypublic
law.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
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- CouncilDirectiven°93/36,asamended,co-ordinatingproceduresfortheaward
ofpubliccontracts(ThePublicSuppliesDirective).Thisdirectiveisnotrelevant
asregards services.
- Council Directive n°93/37, asamended, concerning theco-ordination of
procedures fortheaward ofpublic works contracts, (thePublic Works
Directive). This directive covers contracts between acontractor anda
contracting authority concerning theexecution orboththeexecution anddesign
ofworks related tobuilding orcivilengineering activities, inaddition to
ancillary supplies andservices contracts necessary fortheirexecution.
- Council Directive n°92/50, asamended, relating totheco-ordination of
procedures fortheaward ofpublic service contracts, (thePublic Services
Directive). Thisdirective covers allcontracts between acontracting authority
andaservice supplier which arenotyetcovered byexisting other public
procurement directives. Services aredivided intotwocategories, priority
services forwhich thereisacomplete setofrules, andother services forwhich
therequirements aremuch lesser (seearticles 8-10). Priority services arelisted
inAnnex IAofthedirective, which includes those services which aremost
concerned withcross-frontier trade. Annex IBliststhose services which seem
lesssusceptible ofbeing asubject ofEuropean-wide competition. Thissecond
category issubject toamore flexible regime: onlycommon rulesontechnical
specifications andpost-award information notices arecompulsory.
However, some contracts areexcluded fromthescope ofthisdirective: contracts for
theacquisition orrental, bywhatever financial means, ofland, existing buildings, or
otherimmovable property orconcerning rights thereon (nevertheless, financial services
contracts concluded atthesame timeas,before orafterthecontract ofacquisition or
rental, inwhatever form, shallbesubject tothisDirective); contracts fortheacquisition,
development, production orco-production ofprogramme material bybroadcast and
contracts forbroadcasting time; contracts forvoice telephony, telex, radiotelephony,
pagingandsatelliteservices;contractsforarbitrationandconciliationservices;contracts
forfinancial services inconnection withtheissue, salepurchase ortransfer ofsecurities
orother financial services; employment contracts; research anddevelopment service
contracts other thanthose where thebenefits accrue exclusively tothecontracting
authority foritsuseintheconduct ofitsownaffairs, oncondition thattheservice
provided iswholly remunerated bythecontracting authority (art.1). Moreover, the
directive isnotapplicable topublic service contracts awarded toanentity which is
itself acontracting authority within themeaning ofart.1(b)oftheDirective (art.6).
Thisdirective applies topublic service contracts awarded inthefieldofdefence, except
when theyarecovered bythenational security clause (art.223oftheTreaty).
- Council Directive n°89/665, asamended, ontheco-ordination ofthelaws,
regulations andadministrative provisions relating totheapplication ofreview
procedures totheaward ofpublic supply andpublic works contracts, andpublic
services (thePublic Remedies Directive). This directive provides forthe
establishment (iftheydonotalready exists) ofcourts ortribunals withreal
powers tosettle theconflicts which could arisebetween contracting authorities
andfirms, suppliers ofservices orindividuals.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
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(iii) Utilities Directives: Water, energy, transport andtelecommunications sectors.
- Council directive n°93/38, asamended, co-ordinating theprocurement
procedures oftheentities operating inthewater, energy, transport and
telecommunications sectors (theUtilities Directive). Thisdirective rulesthose
contracts stipulated bybothprivate andpublic utilities operating intheso-called
"former excluded sectors" ofwater, energy, transport andtelecommunications
operating inthesaidsectors, onthebasisofspecial orexclusive rights granted
bythecompetent public authority. Rules applying tothose sectors aremore
flexible thanthose forthetraditional public procurement sectors. Inwhat
regards services, similarly totheServices Directive, services aredivided into
twocategories (articles 15to17).
- Council directive 92/13, asamended, co-ordinating thelaws, regulations and
administrative provisions relating totheapplication ofCommunity rules on
theprocurement procedures ofentities operating inthewater, energy, transport
andtelecommunicationssectors(theRemediesUtilitiesDirective).Thisdirective
alsoprovides fortheestablishment (iftheydonotalready exists) ofcourts or
tribunals withrealpowers tosettle theconflicts which could arise between
contracting authorities andfirms, suppliers ofservices orindividuals inthe
sectors concerned.
(iv) Asalready stated, E.C. Directives arenotapplicable tominor contracts, i.e.below
threshold. Thethresholds areasfollows (classic sectors): 5.000.000 ECU forworks;
200.000 ECU forservices. Regarding theformer excluded sectors thethresholds may
vary: 5.000.000 ECU forworks, 600.000 ECU forservices (intelecommunications)
and400.000 ECU forservices (theother three sectors). Inanycase, thegeneral
provisions oftheTreaty apply tominor contracts, including thenondiscrimination
principle andthefreemovement ofservices.
(v) AtMember Statelevel, national legislation hasimplemented ECrules. Furthermore,
national legislation applies tominor contracts notsubject totheECdirectives.
-A. Procurement regulations above thethresholds areinaccordance withEU-directives.
ForCentral Government Entities theyarespecified intheFederal Act"Bundesvergabegesetz
1993", being revised atpresent. Each ofAustria 's9states ("Bundesländer") follows itsown
internal procurement rulesandregulations, based onthecommon standard "ONORM A-2050",
which correspond totheregulations oftheEU-directives. Procurement regulations below the
thresholdsoftheEC-directivesatfederallevelarealsobasedonthecommonstandard"ONORM
A-2050". Equal treatment ofbidders andnon-discrimination arebasicprinciples ofthiscommon
standard.TherevisedBundesvergabegesetzimplementstheobligatoryuseof"ONORMA-2050"
below thethresholds. Regulations ofthenineBundesländer below thethresholds differ but
areinmost cases alsobased on"ONORM A-2050".
-B. Legislation onpublic procurement ofgoods, works andservices ispartofthe
competencies ofthefederal authorities, which haveenacted anActandimplementing regulations
(arrêtés royaux ).Thislegislation applies toanypublic contract, regardless ofitsvalue, ifthey
haveapecuniary interest. Forthecontracts below theECorGPAthresholds, rulesarelargely
harmonized withthose established intheDirectives andtheGPA.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
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-D. The basis oftheGerman procurement lawisarticle 57ato57cofthe
Haushaltsgrundsätzegesetz (Budgetary principle law). Article 57adefines thegroups of
contracting authorities. Articles 57bandcareconcerned withthereview procedures usedin
cases ofviolation ofprocurement provisions. Thecontract award regulations thatGerman
contractingauthoritiesmustcomplywitharethefollowing:VerdingungsordnungfürLeistungen,
VOL/A (Code forAwarding Public Supplies Contracts including services, butexcluding public
works contracts); Verdingungsordnung fürBauleistungen ,VOB/A (Code forawarding public
works contracts). Each code isdivided into4sections. VOL/A: thefirstsection contains
provisions fornational awards ofsupplies andservices contracts below theECthresholds; the
second section contains provisions which implement theregulations oftheECpublic supplies
Directive 93/36 andinfuture theECpublic services Directive (92/50). Contracting authorities
mustcomply withthissection ifthecontract exceed theECthresholds; thethirdsection contains
provisions applicable topublic contracting entities operating inthewater, energy, transport
andtelecom sector according totheECUtilities Directive 93/38; thefourth section contains
theimplementation oftheECUtilities Directive forprivate contracting authorities. TheVOB/A
issimilarly divided: firstsection, national regulations fortheawards ofpublic works contracts
below theECthresholds; second section, regulations which implement theECpublic works
Directive 93/37 andtherefore arerelevant tocontracts above theECthreshold; thirdsection,
provisions which implement theECutilities Directive concerning public contracting authorities;
fourth section, implementation oftheECutilities Directive forprivate contracting authorities.
-DK. Thefollowing regulations apply inDenmark alsotocontracts ofavalue inferior to
thethresholds: Circular of14April 1989 issued bytheHousing andBuilding Agency which
prescribes thatstateconstruction contracts andconstruction contracts subsidized bythestate
shallbesubject toapublic tender; Circular of1March 1994issued bytheMinistry ofFinance
which imposes anobligation oncentral government institutions toundertake amarket testing
onaregular basis withaviewtoapossible contracting outofagiven activity.
-E. Basic legislation. Law13/1995 (18May) ofPublic Procurement. Itspersonal scope
covers theState, theRegions, theLocal administration, theautonomous bodies andtheentities
subject topublic lawwhich hastheir ownlegal personality andlinked toanyPublic
administration which havebeencreated tosatisfy thegeneral interest orwhose activity ismostly
financed bypublic administrations, orwhose direction iscontrolled bypublic administrations,
orwhose direction bodies arecomposed intheir majority bypersons appointed bypublic
administrations orotherentities ofpublic law.Royal Decree 390/1996 (1March), implementing
theLaw13/1995. Alsorelevant are:Law30/1992 (26November) ontheLegal regime ofthe
Public Administrations andontheCommon administrative procedure; Law7/1985 (2April)
ontheLocal administration. Furthermore, there aresome specific regulations enacted bythe
Regions.
-EL. Asconcerns contracts ofpublic works thevalue ofwhich islower thanthethreshold
established byDirective 93/37, Greece applies Lawn°1418/84 (asmodified notably byLaw
n°2299/94, Lawn°2308/95, Lawn°2372/96 andbyPresidential Decrees) implementing
thegeneral provisions oftheTreaty. Inmostcases, anopenorrestricted tendering procedure
takesplace and-inexceptional cases- anegotiated procedure. Forthose public works contracts
equal toorexceeding ECU 5million invalue, Greece applies theTreaty andDirective 93/37
asincorporated intheHellenic legislation through consecutive presidential Decrees (notably
23/93 and85/95). Forallcontracts fordesign andconstruction ofpublic works, tendering
andmonitoring iscarried outatthree levels: central, peripherical andlocallevel. Asregards
public services contracts, alegislation ofasystematic andgeneral nature ispresently absent,
pendingtheincorporationofDirective92/50intotheHelleniclegislation.Forthepublicservices
contracts withavalue lower thanthethreshold ofECU200.000, Greece applies Lawn°2362/95S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
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(art.82&83)which provides forpublic tendering. Asanexception, thepublic procurement
ofservices afterasimpler procedure oranegotiated procedure isallowed. There alsoexists
aspecial legislation forpublic works design contracts, which, however, hastobemodified,
pending theincorporation ofthe92/50 Directive. Theprocesses forpublic procurement of
services fortheentities operating intheutilities sectors, willbeprovided forintheforthcoming
legislation incorporating Directive 93/38.
-F. Every contract awarded bytheState, theterritorial subdivisions andthepublic bodies
follow therulesestablished bytheCode onPublic Procurement, which comprises allthetexts
concerning theaward ofpublic contracts. Those rulesaresimilar tothose oftheECdirectives,
although some time-limits aredifferent. TheCode establishes thegeneral principle offreedom
ofaccess forcandidates topublic contracts, andthatofequality oftreatment forbothcandidates
andtenders. Itsetsoutthattheaward ofcontracts isdone, ingeneral, afteracallfortenders,
andlimits thecases inwhich anegotiated procedure canbeused.
-I. TheItalianregimeinforceconcerningpublicprocurementofserviceshasbeenregulated
bytwoLegislative Decrees, thatistosay,twolawsdelegated fromParliament toGovernment.
Thefirst,Legislative Decree of17March 1995, n°157 hastransposed intoItalian legislation
theDirective 92/50 (public procurement ofservices inthetraditional sectors). Thesecond,
Legislative Decree of17March 1995, n°158 hastransposed theDirectives 90/531 and93/38,
concerning theso-called excluded sectors.
-IRL. There isnobody oflawgoverning public procurement inIreland lawexcept forthat
provided forunder European Community; WTO andother international obligations. Ireland
hasimplemented intolawallEUpublic procurement Directives bymeans ofsecondary
legislation, thatisbywayof"Statutory Instruments" which transpose theDirectives directly
intoIrishlaw.
With respect tocontracts below EUthresholds, there arenolegally binding regulations but
there arenational government guidelines which public authorities arebound tofollow. The
national guidelines arepublished bytheDepartment ofFinance andwerelastissued in1994.
Theguidelines setsouttherequirements fordealing withsub-threshold andabove-threshold
EUcontracts. TheGuidelines apply to"Government Departments, localandregional authorities
andother bodies dependent onStatefunding, intheaward ofpublic sector contracts (including
theacquisition, letting anddisposal ofpublic property)". Inaddition, itispointed outthat
commercial andnon-commercial State bodies should comply withthebroad principles of
Government contracts procedures andthattaxclearance procedures areobligatory inallcases.
Although theseguidelines donothaveformal forceoflaw,failure toapply themmayobviously
attractthecensureoftheDepartmentofFinance,Parliament,auditorsandtheMedia.Inaddition,
purchasers areaware oftheargument thatfailure tocomply withtheguidelines maybeabreach
ofarepresentation orcontractual obligation, totheeffect thatthepurchaser willapply theproper
published guidelines inconsideration ofthetenderer submitting histender.
-L. Themain lawistheActconcerning public supply andpublic works contracts
(04.04.1974), based onthenon-discrimination principles oftheTreaty ofRome. ECdirectives
havebeenimplemented byspecial Regulations: onefortheclassical sectors (27.01.1994, as
amended 31.05.1996), andonefortheutilities (02.02.1996). AnActof21.12.1989 transposed
theremedies directive, which willbeamended inwhatrefers totheutilities remedies directive.
-NL. TheECdirectives havebeenimplemented inTheNetherlands through theRaamwet
EEG-voorschriften aansbestedingen ofMarch 13,1993(Staatsblad 1993, 212), entryintoforceS/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
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April 12,1993(Framework legislation EECregulation). Under thisframework lawthere are
thefollowing twodecrees fortherelevant sectors:
- Bestluit aanbestedingen nutssector (Staatsblad 1993, 305), entry intoforce April 21,
1993 (Decree onprocurement inthesector ofutilities). This decree applies to
procurement inthesector ofutilities.
- Bestluitoverheidsaanbestedingen(Staatsblad1993,305,asamendedin1994,Staatsblad
1994, 379), entry intoforce July1,1993(Decree ongovernment procurement). This
decree applies toprocurement ofproducts, services andconstruction services.
Theimplementation iseffectuated withareference inthenational legislation totheprovisions
oftheECdirectives which havetobeapplied.
Additionally,theUniform Aabestedingsreglement EG1991(UAR-EG,Staatscourant228,1991,
asamended in1995, Staatscourant 1995, 103)(Harmonised regulation onECprocurement)
contains standard conditions andprocedures forthecentral government with respect to
construction services.
TheNetherlands donothavespecific national legislation onprocurement forproducts and
services under thethreshold. Forprocurement ofconstruction services theUniform
Aanbestedingsreglement 1986 (UAR 1986, Staatscourant 118,1986) (Harmonised regulation
onprocurement) contains standard conditions andprocedures forthecentral government with
respect toconstruction services under thethreshold.
ThetwoECdirectives onremedies (89/665 adn92/13) arecovered byexisting national
legislation(CivilCode).Therefore,nospecificnationallegislationimplementingthesedirectives
wasneeded.
-P. RulesgoverningpublicprocurementinPortugalaretheDecreto-Lein°55/95asmodified
byDecreto-Lein°80/96.TheDecreto-Lein°64/94governstheprocurementofcomputer-related
goods andservices. TheDecreto-Lei n°405/92 refers toworks.
-S. SwedenhasincorporatedtherelevantECdirectivesinitslaw(1992:1528)ongovernment
procurement (Lagen omOffentlig Upphandling, LOU),which hasbeenrevised accordingly
(1993:1468) andreprinted intheregister ofpromulgated laws(Svenks Förfartningssamling,
SFS).Thelawhasbeenadditionally revised through amendments 1994:614, 1995:704 and
1996:433.Swedenhasalsointroducednationalrulesongovernmentprocurementbelowthreshold
values given inthedirectives. Thenational rules apply tothesame procurers andthesame
typesofprocurement(goods,servicesandpublicworkscontracts)thataresubjecttoCommunity
regulation butarenotasdetailed. Theexemptions allowed forprocurement above thethreshold
values arevalid alsoforprocurement below these values.
-SF. Finland hasfullyimplemented allECpublic procurement directives. Inaddition to
ECrules, which apply onlytocontracts exceeding acertain threshold value, Finland has
completed itsinternal legislation byrulesapplying alsotocontracts below threshold. Theact
onPublic Procurement (1505/92, amend. 1523/94) applies toallpublic procurement regardless
ofthevalue ofthecontract. According totheAct,principles ofnon-discrimination and
transparency havetobeapplied irrespective ofthevalue oftheprocurement. Procurement
withoutcompetitivetenderingispermissibleonlyforparticularreasons.Furthermore,provisions
relating tolegalremedies areincluded intheact.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
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There arealsotwodecrees applying toprocurement procedures ofgovernment entities (i.e.
municipalities, other public bodies orpublic utilities arenotcovered) which cover contracts
below thegiven ECthreshold value. Some basic procedural requirements tobefollowed in
theaward procedures ofthese contracts areestablished bythese decrees. Thedecree on
Government Procurement (1416/93) applies tosupply andservice contracts. Certain provisions
ofthatDecree (forexample those relating toopening oftenders, publicity orguarantees) apply
alsotocontracts awarded bygovernment entities above thethreshold value.
-UK. TheECdirectives havebeenimplemented intheUnited Kingdom. However, there
isnolawcovering below threshold procurement.
(b) Does theprocurement regime distinguish between theprocurement ofgoods andservices?
Ifso,thenhowistheapplication ofrulesdetermined incases ofjointprocurement involving
goods andservices?
Theregime, atEClevel, distinguishes between theprocurement ofgoods andservices (see
supra). However, differences areminimal, andatMember Statelevel, there isoften onlyone
setofrules. Forinstance inFrance, rulesare,inprinciple, identical forsupplies andservices
contracts, withtheonlyexception ofdesign contests which arefollowed bytheprovision of
services (procedure frequently usedforsome works contracts).
Ifapublic contract isintended tocover bothproducts within themeaning oftheSupply Directive
andservices within themeaning ofthePublic Services Directive, itshallfallwithin thescope
ofthelatter ifthevalue oftheservices inquestion exceeds thatoftheproducts covered by
thecontract. Inthecaseofworks contract, ajudgement oftheECJspecifies thattheWorks
directive isnotapplicable iftheworks inquestion areaccessory tothemain object ofthe
adjudication (Gestion Hotelera, ECR, 1994, I-1329).
Procurement procedures applied
4.(a) What procedures arefollowed intheprocurement process
There arethree main public procurement procedures, plusafourth one("design contest"),
thatispeculiar totheservice contracts:
- Open procedure: allinterested service providers maytender
- Restricted procedure: onlyservice providers thathavebeeninvited totender bythe
contracting authority maydoso.
- Negotiated procedure: thecontracting authority consults selected service providers and
negotiates thecontract terms withoneormore ofthem(usually aminimum ofthree).
- Design Contest: thisprocedure enables thecontracting authority toacquire aplanor
design selected byajuryafterhaving beenputintocompetition withorwithout the
awardofprices.DesignContestscanbeorganizedasapartofanotherprocedureleading
totheaward ofaservice contract, oronthecontrary, theycanconstitute anindependent
procedure ontheirown(art.13oftheServices Dir.).S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page12
(b) Under which circumstances aredifferent procedures used? Forinstance, ifthemethod used
depends onthevalue oftheprocurement, thethresholds should begiven.
(i) Traditional sectors:
According tothePublic Works andPublic Services Directives, Contracting Authorities are
entirely freetooptbetween open orrestricted procedures, onlytheoption ofnegotiated
procedures, withorwithout prior publication ofacontract notice, islimited toparticular
situations (seeart.7and11respectively).
(ii) Water, energy, transport andtelecommunications sectors:
Contracting authorities maychoose anyoftheprocedures provided thatacallforcompetition
hasbeenmade. Thisprior callforcompetition canbeavoided under some circumstances (see
art.20.2oftheUtilities directive).
(c) What arethetimelimits forsubmission ofbids?
(i) Traditional sectors:
Inopenprocedures, thedeadline established bytheauthority forreceipt ofthetenders
cannot belessthan52calendar days from thedateofdispatch ofthenotice for
publication. Thistimelimitmaybereduced to36daysincaseofpre-information.
Inrestricted andnegotiated procedures, thebidispreceded byarequest ofthecontractor
tobeinvited toparticipate inthetender. Thetimelimit forreceipt ofrequest to
participate fixed bythecontracting authorities shallbenolessthan37daysfrom the
dateofdispatch ofthenotice. Thetimelimitforreceipt oftenders maynotbeless
than40daysfromthedateofdispatch ofthewritten invitation inthecaseorrestricted
procedures. Thistimelimitcanbereduced to26daysincaseofpre-information. In
caseofjustified urgency, those timelimits maybereduced tonotlessthan15days
forthereceipt ofrequest, andnotlessthan10daysforthereceipt oftenders.
(ii) Water, energy, transport andtelecommunications sectors:
Inopen procedures, thetimelimit forthereceipt oftenders isthesame asforthe
traditional sectors: 52days(36ifpre-information).
Inrestricted andnegotiated procedures, timing isdifferent. Thetimelimitforreceipt
ofrequest toparticipate shall, asageneral rule,beatleast5weeks from thedateof
dispatch ofthenotice orinvitation andshallinanycasenotbelessthanthetimelimit
forpublication (seeart.25§3) plus10days. Thetimelimitforreceipt oftenders may
befixedbymutual agreement between thecontracting entity andtheselected candidates,
provided thatalltenderers aregiven equal timetoprepare andsubmit tenders. Ifthat
kindofagreement isnotreached, thecontracting entity shallfixatimelimitwhich
shall, asageneral rule,beatleast3weeks andshallinanycasenotbelessthan10
daysfrom thedateofinvitation totender.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page13
Publicity forinviting tenders
5(a) Howareintended procurement publicised? Areinvitations totender published? Ifso,where,
andinwhat languages?
TheDirectives foresee common advertising rules forthetender procedures.
(i) Traditional sectors
Contracting authorities shallmake known, bymeans ofanotice, theirintention toaward
acontract, awork concession oradesign contest. Thisnotice shallbesenttotheOffice
forOfficial Publications oftheEuropean Communities, which shallpublish itnotlater
than12daysafteritsdispatch (5daysinaccelerated procedures).
Notices arepublished infullintheOfficial Journal oftheEuropean Communities
(supplement S)andintheTED databankintheoriginal language, which istheonly
authentic. Asummary oftheimportant elements ofeachnotice ispublished intheother
official languages oftheCommunity, theoriginal textalone being authentic. Atpresent,
theofficial languages oftheCommunity are:Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French,
German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish andSwedish.
Inaddition tothose invitation totender notices, pre-information notices arepublished.
Inworks contracts, Contracting authorities publish indicative notices containing the
essential characteristics oftheworks contracts which theyintend toaward. Thisnotice
ispublished infullinalltheofficial languages oftheCommunity, theoriginal text
alone being authentic. Inother services, contracting authorities shallmake know, by
means ofanindicative notice tobepublished assoonaspossible afterthebeginning
oftheirbudgetary year,theintended totalprocurement ineachoftheservice categories
listedinAnnexIAoftheServicesDirective(the"priorityservices")whichtheyenvisage
awarding during thesubsequent 12months where thetotalestimated value isnotless
thanECU 750.000. Non-priority services contracts (those listed inAnnex IB)arenot
published.
(ii) Water, Energy, Transport andTelecommunications sectors:
Inthese sectors, acallforcompetition ispublished infullintheiroriginal language
intheO.J.oftheE.C.andintheTEDdatabank. Asummary oftheimportant elements
ofeachnotice ispublished intheotherofficial languages oftheCommunity, theoriginal
textalone being authentic. Notices shallbesenttotheOffice forOfficial Publications
oftheEuropean Communities, which shallpublish itnotlaterthan12daysafterits
dispatch (5daysinaccelerated procedures).
Calls forcompetition mayadopt fourdifferent forms: anotice stating theintention
toaward aparticular contract; aperiodic indicative notice towhich undertakings can
express theirinterest (inthatcase,itmusthavebeenpublished notmorethan12months
prior tothedateonwhich theinvitation toconfirm theinterest issent. There isno
further publication ofanotice ofacallforcompetition.); anotice ontheexistence
ofaqualification system; oranotice ofcallforcompetition inthecaseofdesign
contests.
Inthecaseofworks contracts, contracting entities must make known, atleastonce
ayear, bymeans ofaperiodic indicative notice, theessential characteristics oftheS/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page14
works contracts tobeawarded which meetthethreshold requirements. Inthecaseof
other service contracts, theperiodic indicative notice mustinclude theestimated total
value oftheservice contracts ineachofthecategories ofservices listed inAnnex XVI
Awhich theyintend toaward overthefollowing 12months, ifsuchvalue isequal
orgreater thanECU 750.000. (Seearts.21,22,23and25oftheUtilities Directive)
(iii) Inaddition tothepublication intheOfficial Journal oftheE.C., notices canbepublished
intheofficial journals orinthepress ofthecountry ofthecontracting authority.
However, publication cannot bemade before thedateofdispatch totheOffice for
Official Publications oftheE.C. They shallnotcontain information other thanthat
published intheO.J.oftheE.C. Furthermore, notices forprocurements below the
ECthreshold values arenotpublished intheO.J.. They areusually published inthe
national official journals aswellasinlocal, regional ornational newspapers. See
hereunder forspecific information
-A. Noticesbelowandabovethethresholdsarealsopublishedeitherinthe"WienerZeitung"
orinthe"Amtlicher Lieferungsanzeiger".
-B. Notices, regardless ofthevalue ofthecontract, arealsopublised inthe"Bulletin des
Adjudications", anofficial bodywithin theBelgian Official Journal ("Moniteur /Staatsblad").
Only insome cases, negotiated procedures areexempted from publication.
-D. NoticesaboutprocurementbelowtheECthresholdsarepublishedintheGermanOfficial
Journal ("Bundesausschreibungsblatt")
-DK. Notices onpublic works andconstruction contracts andcontracts below theEC
thresholds, arealsopublished inaspecialized newspaper ("Licitationen"). Furthermore, notices
concerning contracts bothabove andbelow thethresholds, including notices onsupplies and
servicescontracts,aresometimespublishedinnational(orlocal)newspapersorinthespecialised
press, intheformer caseonlyafterdispatch ofthenotice totheECOJ.National publication
isonlymandatory forcertain contracts submitted fortender bycentral government (state)
institutions, bothabove andbelow threshold values.
-E. ContractsabovethethresholdsarealsopublishedintheSpanishOfficialJournal("Boletín
Oficial delEstado"), inSpanish.
-I. Contracts above thethresholds arealsopublished intheItalian Official journal (Gazzetta
ufficiale dellaRepubblica italiana), onlyinItalian language andsummarized onatleasttwo
newspapers,onehavingnationalcirculation,oneatregionallevel.Belowthethresholdscontracts
arepublished onnational journals, regional andlocal bulletins. Theannual pre-information
iscompulsory ontheOfficial Journal oftheECandtwonewspapers.
-IRL. Ingeneral, advertising isrecommended forallbutthemostminor contracts eg.above
IR£10,000. Theprecise nature ofadvertising would depend onvaluation andnature ofthe
contract. Forasub-threshold contracts advertising would normally takeplace inatleasttwo
nationalnewspapers,supplementedbytheinternationalpress,asappropriate.Manysub-threshold
contracts, funded fromCommunity sources, areadvertised voluntarily intheOfficial Journal
oftheEU.
-L. Notices arealsopublished inLuxembourg newspapers, although information provided
islessdetailed.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page15
-P. Notices arepublished inthethirdserieofthePortuguese Official Journal ("Diário de
laRepública") andintwomajor newspapers, inPortuguese.
-S. There isnomandatory obligation topublish invitations totenders below thethreshold
values. Announcements ofsuchprocurement arehowever, sometimes published inSwedish
newspapers forcommercial reasons.
-SF. Notices concerning intended procurement ofFinnish contracting entities arealso
published inFinnish orSwedish language inthesupplement totheFinnish Official Gazette
('Julkiset hankinnat ').Publication ofnotices exceeding certain threshold values according to
ECdirectives ismandatory butmany contracting entities alsovoluntarily publish notices of
smaller contracts.
(b) Dotheextent andformofpublicity differ according totendering procedures applied and/or
onthevalue ofprocurement?
Thelength ofthenotice shallnotbegreater thanonepageoftheJournal, orapproximately
650words (forthetraditional sectors).
Invitations totender innon-priority services contracts (those listed inAnnex IBoftheServices
Directive) arenotpublished.
Inthecaseofthenegotiated procedure, somecontracts canbeawarded without priorpublication
ofacontract notice, provided thatsome requirements aremet.Seeart.7.3ofthePublic Works
directive andart.11.3ofthePublic Services directive.
Inthesectors ofWater, Energy, Transport andTelecommunication, aprocedure without prior
callforcompetition maybefollowed according toart.20.2.
There arenocommon advertising rulesforcontracts under thethreshold values. Eachnational
legislation establishes itsownrules which usually provide forpublication atnational level.
(c) What details oftheintended procurement arenormally published? Isthere aminimum set
ofinformation thatisrequired tobepublished? Ifso,please specify.
Works: notices shallspecify theinformation requested inthemodels setoutinannexes IV,
VandVIoftheWorks Directive.
Other Services: notices shallspecify theinformation requested inthemodels setoutinannexes
IIIandIVoftheServices Directive.
Water, Energy, Transport andTelecommunications sectors: thecallsforcompetition maybe
made bymeans ofanotice drawn upinaccordance withAnnex XIIA,BorC;aperiodic
indicative notice drawn upinaccordance withAnnex XIV; orbymeans ofanotice onthe
existence ofaqualification system drawn upinaccordance withAnnex XIII.InDesign Contests,
thecallforcompetition shallbemade bymeans ofanotice drawn upinaccordance withAnnex
XVII.
Standard forms exists forusebycontracting entities, buttheiruseisnot(yet)mandatory.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page16
(d) Arethere anycharges forobtaining thefullsetoftender documents? Ifso,please specify
anddescribe howthese charges areset.
According tothedirectives, thecontract documents andsupporting documents shallbesent
totheservice providers bythecontracting authorities orcompetent departments within six
daysofreceipt oftheirapplication. Nevertheless, where tenders require theexamination of
voluminous documentation suchaslengthy technical specifications, avisittothesiteoran
on-the-spot inspection ofthedocuments supporting thecontract documents, thisshallbetaken
intoaccount when theappropriate timelimits arefixed.
Charges forobtaining thefullsetoftender documents maybeimposed ornot,depending on
therelevant national legislation.
-A. According tothe"Bundesvergabegesetz" §25,charges forbidding-documents foropen
tendering should correspond tothecostforproduction ofthesedocuments pluspostal charges.
Adeposit mayberequired fordocuments which arehanded outfreeofcharge butmust be
returned totheprocuring entity.
-B. Ifcharges areimposed, theycannot exceed thecostofcopying andsending the
documents.
-D. Inopen procedures thecharges forobtaining thefullsetoftender documents must
notexceed thecostofcopying. Inrestricted andnegotiated procedures there arenocharges.
-DK. According totheDanish tradition, acharge (deposit) isnormally required inorder
toobtain tender documents intheconstruction andwork area,andthedeposit willberefunded
upon return ofthedocuments inundamaged condition. Astotender documents relating to
supplies andservices procurement, there isnoestablished tradition. Tender documents can
insome instances beobtained freeofcharge, inother cases acharge (which insome, butnot
all,cases issubject torefund upon return ofthedocuments) hastobepaid.
-E. Charges canbeimposed toobtain thetender documents. Inthatcase, theymust be
specified inthecallfortenders.
-EL. Thechargeforobtainingthefullseriesofdocumentsregardingthetenderingcorresponds
tothecostofreproducing those documents.
-F. Thewhole setofbidding documents canbeobtained freeofcharge fromthecontracting
entity. Territorial entities havethepossibility toaskforarefund deposit while giving the
documents. Suchdeposit willberefunded tothecandidate along withtheintroduction ofthe
bid.
-I. Thecharges forobtaining thedocuments frompublic contracting entities correspond
tothecostofreproducing those documents.
-I. Theseeking ofdeposits fortender documents iscommon. However therecommended
practice isthatdeposits should bereturnable infullonreceipt ofabona fidetender, not
subsequently withdrawn. Theamount ofthedeposit sought should notbeexcessive andshould
bebased onthemarginal costs incurred inpreparing therelevant documents, i.e.thecosts
incurred inreproducing andissuing thedocuments including alloverheads suchaslabour,
materials, reproduction costs, postage, etc.Themarginal costs should notinclude thecostsS/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page17
ofpreparing theoriginal setoftender documents. Feesordeposits cannot beusedasabarrier
tofreecompetition.
-L. National legislation provides thatthetransmission formandtheterms ofreference are
sentfreeofcharge. However, ifthesubmission documents contain maps orother pieces, the
contracting authority canrequest bidders topaythecostofthese documents. Charges are
nevertheless reimbursed toallcandidates submitting atender.
-NL. Aseachentity isresponsible foritsownprocurement, theyarealsofreetodecide on
charges fortender documents. Ifcharges aremade thiswillingeneral beoncost-related basis.
Itisadvised thatcharges, ifmade, should besetinanon-discriminatory manner.
-P. There isadirect linkbetween thecharge tobepaidandthecostoftheprocedure.
-S. Itisuptotheindividual procurer todecide, when engaged inprocurement activities
above andbeneath thethreshold levels, ifitwants tocollect charges forobtaining thesetof
tender documents aswellasthesizeofthese charges, aslongasthedemanded charges are
notundue tocertain groups ofsuppliers.
-SF. There arenouniform practice relating tocharges oftender documents. Inprinciple,
contracting entities maycharge areasonable price fortender documents. However, charges
should beinrelation torealcostscaused tothecontracting entity forsupplying thosedocuments.
-UK. Public purchasers could make charges fortender documents. Theadvice isthatsuch
charges should notbemade, butiftheyare,theyshould bebased onthecostofproducing
extra setsofdocuments.
(e) Areelectronic means usedtoadvertise procurement opportunities? What isthenature of
systems thatareinplace? Aredifferent tendering provisions applied tocontracts advertised
inthismanner? Ifso,please describe.
Tenders Electronic Daily, known asTED, istheon-line version oftheprinted "Supplement
StotheOfficial Journal oftheEuropean Communities". Similarly totheOfficial Journal, TED
isupdated fivetimes perweek. Itisproduced bytheOffice forOfficial Publications ofthe
European Communities, hosted bytheEuropean Commission HostOrganisation (ECHO) and
offered inmany countries viaOfficial Gateways.
Atpresent, inaddition totheformer connection procedures, auser-friendly graphical interface
allows users toconnect totheECHO databases using a"Windows" environment ("Windows
access toCentral Host). Watch-ECHO can bedown-loaded from theInternet
(http://www2.echo.lu/echo/en/menuecho.html).
Furthermore, theCommission services arecurrently working onapilotproject named SIMAP
(Information system forpublic procurement) which intends tocreate anEU-wide electronic
public procurement network aiming tomake theprocess more efficient, more reliable, less
time-consuming, andultimately more costeffective, bothforprocurers andsuppliers. Itis
expected tobefullyoperative bytheyear2000. TheInternet Homepage canbevisited at:
http://194.78.31.74:8087/.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
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Requirements laiddown forpossible suppliers
6.(a) Arethere registration, residence orother requirements forpotential suppliers?
There arenoresidence requirements.
TheWorks andServices directives donotprejudice theapplication atnational levelofrules
concerning theconditions forthepursuit ofanactivity oraprofession, provided thattheyare
compatible withCommunity law.Inaddition, tenderers mayberequested toprove their
enrolment inoneoftheprofessional ortrade registers. (Seearticle 25oftheWorks directive
and30oftheServices directive)
Legal form oftenderers orcandidates isnotaground forrejection ofthetender aslongas
under thelawoftheMember Stateofestablishment tenderers orcandidates areentitled tocarry
outtherelevant service activity. However, legalpersons mayberequired toindicate thenames
andrelevant professional qualifications ofthestafftoberesponsible fortheperformance of
theservice. Iftenders aresubmitted bygroups ofservice providers, aspecific legalformcannot
berequired inorder tosubmit thebid,although itcanberequired oncethecontract hasbeen
awarded. (Seearticles 21oftheWorks directive, 26oftheServices directive and33ofthe
Utilities directive)
(b) What isthenature ofanyconditions forparticipation required from suppliers -such as
financial guarantees, commercial standing andtechnical qualifications? Dotheconditions
ofparticipation varyaccording tothenature ofthetender process and/or thevalue ofthe
intended procurement?
(i) Traditional sectors
There aresome conditions thatallow theparticipation tothetender procedure; and
some others thatallow theexclusion from it.
Anyservice provider maybeexcluded from participation inacontract under some
circumstances, such asbankruptcy (and other insolvency procedures), criminal
conviction, grave professional misconduct, failure torespect thesocial security ortax
obligations, andmisrepresentation insupplying orfailing tosupply theinformation
thatmayberequired asregards qualitative criteria. (Seearticles 24oftheWorks
directive and29oftheServices directive).
Inrespect totheproof oftheservice provider 'sfinancial andeconomic standing, the
contracting authorities shallspecify inthecontract notice orintheinvitation totender
thereferencetobeproduced.Thedirectivesprovidewithsomereferencesadexemplum :
statementsfrombanks,professionalriskindemnityinsurance,serviceprovider'sbalance
sheetsorstatementoftheundertaking'sturnover.(Seearticles26oftheWorksdirective
and31oftheService directive).
Theability ofservice providers toperform services maybeevaluated inparticular
withregard totheirskills, efficiency, experience andreliability. Thedirectives list
severalmeansaccordingtothenature,quantityandpurposeoftheservicetobeprovided
inorder togiveevidence oftheservice provider 'stechnical capability. Thecontracting
authority shallspecify which references itwishes toreceive, taking intoconsideration
thelegitimateinterestsoftheserviceprovidersasregardstheprotectionoftheirtechnical
ortradesecrets. Itcanberequired theproduction ofcertificates issued byindependentS/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page19
bodies attesting conformity oftheservice withcertain quality assurance systems, which
must bebased onEuropean standards. (Seearticles 27oftheWorks directive and
32-33 oftheServices directive).
(ii) Utilities
Rules regarding thesectors ofwater, energy, transport andtelecommunications are
muchlessdetailed.Noequivalentrulesontechnicalandfinancialsuitabilityareincluded
intheUtilities directive, instead, itsimply provides thatselection ofcandidates totender
(inrestricted andnegotiated procedures) shallbemade according toobjective criteria
andruleswhich contracting entities laydown andwhich theyshallmake available to
interested service providers. Those criteria mayinclude thecriteria forexclusion
specified intheWorks andServices directives (supra). Inanycase, theselection
procedure must takeaccount oftheneedtoensure adequate competition.
Asimilar lackofdetailed rulesalsoexists inrelation toqualification systems (seeinfra).
However, despite thisabsence ofdetailed rules, inpractice utilities should lookatthe
same factors andaccept thesame means ofproof asthose provided intheother
directives. (Seearticle 31oftheUtilities directive).
(c) Dothere existlistsofapproved suppliers? Ifso,what aretheprocedures forchecking the
capability offirms applying forinclusion ontenderers 'mailing lists? Arelistsofapproved
suppliers, ifany,regularly reviewed/updated?
(i) Traditional sectors:
Member States canhaveofficial listsofrecognized service providers, although most
ofthem donothave. Those listsmust respect theDirectives provisions concerning
thecriteria forqualitative selection (seesupra). Certified registration inofficial lists
ofservice providers bythecompetent bodies shall, forthecontracting authorities of
otherMemberStates,constituteapresumptionofsuitabilitycorrespondingtotheservice
provider 'sclassification inmostofthecriteria forqualitative selection. (Seearticles
29oftheWorks directive and35oftheServices directive).
(ii) Utilities:
Contracting entities which sowishmayestablish andoperate asystem ofqualification
ofsuppliers, contractors andservice providers. Aninformative notice ispublished in
theOfficial Journal oftheEuropean Communities. Thesystem shalloperate onthe
basis ofobjective criteria andrules, making reference toEuropean standards if
appropriate. Updating ofcriteria andrules ispossible. Refusal ofqualification or
bringingthequalificationtoanendmustbereasonedandapplicantsorservicesproviders
should benotified.
Where aqualification system exists andaQualification Notice isusedasthesole"call
forcompetition", theselection ofcandidates forbidlists forspecific contracts must
derive from those suppliers orcontracts qualified under thesystem. (Seearticle 30
oftheUtilities directive).S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page20
Criteria forassessing bidsandawarding contracts.
7.(a) What criteria aretaken intoaccount intheaward oftenders? Arecriteria foraward of
contracts made available inadvance topotential suppliers?
Thecriteria onwhich thecontracting authority mustbasetheaward ofcontracts are(without
prejudicetonationallaws,regulationsoradministrativeprovisionsontheremunerationofcertain
services): thelowest price orthemost advantageous tender.
Criteria foraward havetobemade known beforehand. Moreover, where thecontract isto
beawarded totheeconomically mostadvantageous tender, thecontracting authority shallstate
which award criteria itintends toapply, where possible indescending order ofimportance.
Those criteria canbe,forexample: quality, technical merit, aesthetic andfunctional
characteristics, technical assistance andafter-sale service, delivery date, delivery period or
period ofcompletion, price...
(b) Isprocurement subject toanyoffset provisions, suchaslocal content, technology transfer
orcountertrade requirements?
No.However, asregards utilities, there isaprovision which creates akindofCommunity
preference, thusfavorising localcontent. Seeinfraquestion 9(art.36oftheutilities directive).
(c) Ispreference given toanyparticular enterprise ofgroup ofenterprises? Ifso,please specify.
No.
(d) Dotheprocurement criteria differ according tosector orregion oftheeconomy?
No.
(e) What isthemargin ofchoice ordiscretion allowed tothepurchasing authority? What does
theextent, ifany,ofdiscretion allowed depend upon?
Ifthecriterion isthelowest price, theaward shallbeautomatic. However, abnormally low
tenders canberejected, provided thatsome rules arerespected.
Inthecaseofthemostadvantageous tender, thecriteria shallbepreviously fixed. Those criteria
areobjective inthesense thattheymustconcern thecharacteristics oftheprovision ofservices
ortheexecution modalities, butnotthesubjective qualities ofthesuppliers. Inanycase,
contracting authorities donothaveanunconditional freedom ofchoice.
8. Disclosure ofbidsreceived andcontracts awarded
(a) How aretenders received, registered andopened?
Reception, registration andopening ofbidsaregoverned bynational law.TheEConlyindicates
that,inopenprocedures, thedate,timeandplace oftheopening mustbepublished inthetender
notice, aswellasthepersons allowed tobepresent attheopening.
-A. According to"Bundesvergabegesetz" 1993, §32tenders havetobesubmitted inasealed
envelope totheprocurement entity, which willkeeparecord ofthedayandexacttimeofreceipt
oftenders. Informations regarding thetenders received, especially thename ofbidders andS/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page21
number ofbidswillnotbedisclosed. Tenders aretobestored securely untilopening ofbids.
According tosection 33ofthesame Act,inopenandrestricted procedures, bidshavetobe
opened atthespecified timeandplace immediately afterexpiration ofthebidding period as
stated inthebidding documents. Opening ofbidsistobecarried outbyacommission, consisting
ofatleast2informed representatives oftheprocurement entity. Bidders areentitled tobe
represented atbid-opening; andcanonlybeexcluded forimportant reasons. Inthiscase, that
commission hastobecomposed ofatleast3informed representatives oftheprocurement entity.
Asregards thenegotiated procedure, noformal opening ofbidsisrequired. According toa
Government directive, therelevant regulations of"ONORM A2050-award ofbidsforservices,
tendering offers andaward" of1January 1993aretobeapplied foropening ofbids.Thisalso
requires thatcertain unit-prices orprices forcertain positions, which aresubject tolaterprice-
changes aretobemade known atbidopening.
-B. According totheBelgian legislation, tenders mustbesentbyordinary orregistered
mail, orhanded tothecontracting entity. Inorder toguarantee confidentiality, tenders are
inserted inasecond anonymous envelope. Tenders areopened inpublic (open procedures),
orinpresence ofthebidders (restricted procedures) byanOpening Commission established
bytheContracting Entity. When theaward criteria isthelower price, prices arepublicly
disclosed atthistime. Arecord oftheopening, which canbeconsulted bythepersons attending,
isdrawn up.Nonegotiation onthetenders isallowed. Innegotiated procedures, there isno
public opening oftenders.
-D. Offers havetobemarked thedayofarrival without being opened, andhavetobekept
closed untilthedayofdisclosure. After theperiod forsubmitting tenders, offers canbeopened
bythechairman andtwoofficials ofthecontracting authority without thepresence ofbidders.
Anotehastobemade stating thename ofthebidder, theprice and,ifexisting, sideoffers.
Thebidder hasnotaccess tothose notes. After thebidsareopened anduntilthecontract is
awarded, negotiations between thebidder andthecontracting authority arenotallowed.
-DK. Tenders arereceived intheways described intheEUprocurement directives.
Registration isdone according totheprocedures oftheindividual public authorities. Inthe
fieldofconstruction andworks, bidders havealegalrighttobepresent attheopening oftenders.
Inthesupplies andservices areas, there exists nolegal obligations onpublic institutions to
allow presence ofthebidders attheopening ofbids. Inpractice, however, some authorities
doallow presence oftenderers, whereas other donotadmit tenderers attheopening.
-E. Bidsarereceived intheRegister Office ofeachentity, andareopened byacollegiate
body, composed ofofficials.
-EL. Greek legislation isproviding afulldescription oftheprocess forreceiving, registering
andopening oftheoffers soastosecure publicity andtransparency. Offers aresubmitted or
sentbyaregistered letter inasealed envelope, accompanied withallother relevant documents.
-F. Bidsmustbesentanonymously, butensuring thatthedateisclear. Bidsareregistered
andareceipt isgiven totheperson whopresented thebid.Opening isdonebyaCommission
acting ascollege. Withrespect totheterritorial entities, thisCommission iscomposed ofpeople
designed byvotation within theAssembly. Therefore, theopening issubject totheprinciples
ofplurality andrepresentativeness.
-I. Italian legislation foresees therequest ofparticipation totender mustbesentbyclosed
envelope. Inthecaseofeconomic offertherequest mustbesentbysealed envelope withsealing-S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page22
wax. theenvelope willbeopenbytheCommission ofvaluation. These rulesareinforce for
allcontracting entities.
-IRL. Tenders arereceived, registered andnotopened untilthenominated date,when they
aresimultaneously opened, usually inprivate butwithmore thanoneofficial present. Late
tenders arenotentertained andarereturned unopened.
-L. Envelopes containing thetenders should besentclosed. Inopen andrestricted
procedures, tenders areopened inpresence ofthebidders, atthetimeanddatefixed forthe
opening. Tenders canbesentbyregistered mailordelivered inperson.
-NL. Itmayvaryaccording tothekindofservice required andtheprocurement procedure
chosen. Ingeneral, tenders areopened simultaneously andinpresence ofanimpartial party.
-P. Bidsarereceived andregistered bytheadministrative services andopenbythe"Júri
deAbertura dePropostas" (Bids Opening Jury).
-S. Tenders may,inthecaseofprocurement above thethreshold levels, onlybesubmitted
intheoriginal within thesettimelimit. Inthecaseofprocurement beneath thethreshold levels,
thetenderer maysubmit tenders bytelegram, telefax oranyequivalent means within thetime
limit, ifthetenderer promptly confirms thetender through apersonally signed document. The
procurers decide themselves howthetenders beregistered before theopening ofthetender.
Thetenders areopened withaminimum oftwopeople designated bytheprocurer present.
Onthedemand ofatenderer, aperson designated bytheChamber ofCommerce mayalso
bepresent attheopening ofthetender. Theextra costincurred ispaidbythetenderer who
hasdemanded thepresence ofthisperson.
-SF. There arenouniform rulesorpractices relating toreceiving, registering andopening
oftenders. However, according toDecree onGovernment Procurement, when tenders are
opened, alistofalltenders received hastobedrawn up.TheFederation oftheFinnish
Municipalities hasincluded corresponding rulesinitsGeneral Procurement Guideline (1995).
-UK. Inmany cases theprocurement ofservices willinvolve iterative procedures inwhich
therewillbeacompetitive tendering stage. Theadvice togovernment departments ontendering
procedures iscontained intheCentral UnitonProcurement 'sGuidance n°40, Thecompetitive
tendering process asfollows:
Allresponses toInvitations toTender mustbeconducted under "sealed bid"conditions.
Each bidmustbesubmitted "sealed" andkeptsecure bythedepartment untilthebid
opening timeisreached. Topreserved equity andtoavoid premature disclosure of
tender prices orother irregularities, allcompetitive tenders should beopened onthe
duedate,andrecorded bytheTender Opening Board. (Tender opening boards should
beformally constituted andcomprise aChairman whowillnormally beanofficer
serving inaPurchasing Unit, anindependent member fromanon-Purchasing Branch
andaSecretary).
Itisenvisaged thatwhere bidsaremade other thaninwriting, theywillbekeptsafeuntilthe
duedate.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page23
(b) Areentities required topublish details ofthecontracts awarded and/or notify unsuccessful
tenderers?
Contracting authorities orcontracting entities whohaveawarded acontract, orhavehelda
design contest shallmake known theresult bymeans ofapost-award information notice to
bepublished infullintheO.J.oftheE.C.andintheTEDdatabankintheofficial languages
oftheCommunities, theoriginal textalone being authentic. Inthecaseofutilities, publication
isdoneonlyintheoriginal language. Thisrequirement shallbefulfilled within 48daysafter
thecontract award.
Theinformation tobepublished isnotlimited tothemere mention oftheactual award ofa
contract butmustcontain theconditions under which thecontract hasbeenawarded (i.e.the
criteria applied andtheprice agreed). However, relevant information onthecontract award
may, under certain circumstances, beomitted. Thispossibility islimited tothatinformation
which could haveharmful effects onthewinning firmorthepublic interest. (Seeart.11.5
ofthePublic Works directive, art.16ofthePublic Services directive, andart.24oftheUtilities
directive).
Inaddition, foreachcontract awarded, thecontracting authorities shalldrawupawritten report
tobecommunicatedtotheCommissionatitsrequest.(Seeart.8.3orthePublicWorksdirective;
art.12.3ofthePublic Services directive)
(c) Areentities required topublish, orprovide tounsuccessful bidders, pertinent reasons why
theirbidwasrejected?
Contracting authorities must, within fifteen daysofthedateonwhich therequest isreceived,
informanyeliminatedcandidateortendererwhosorequestinwritingofthereasonsforrejection
ofhisapplication orhistender, andinthecaseofatender, thename ofthesuccessful tenderer.
Unsuccessful tenderers mayaskforadditional information tothecontracting entity iftheyare
notsatisfy withtheexplanations. (Seeart.8.1ofthePublic Works directive, art.12.1. ofthe
Public Services directive).
Furthermore, thecontracting authority shallinform candidates ortenderers whosorequest
inwriting ofthegrounds onwhich itdecided nottoaward acontract inrespect ofwhich a
prior callforcompetition wasmade, ortorecommence theprocedure. Itshallalsoinform
theOffice forOfficial Publications oftheEuropean Communities ofthatdecision. (Seeart.
8.2ofthePublic Works directive, art.12.2. ofthePublic Services directive).
Treatment granted todomestic andforeign services and/or suppliers
9. What laws, regulations, procedures orpractices accord domestic services and/or suppliers
treatment more favourable thanthataccorded toforeign services and/or suppliers, oraccord
services and/or suppliers ofaMember more favourable treatment thanthose ofanother
Member? Please specify how, ifatall,more favourable treatment isaccorded. Please also
specify theworking definition of"domestic" inrelation todomestic services andsuppliers.
InE.C. law,allsuppliers from anyMember State oftheE.C. must beequally treated. So,
"Domestic" must beunderstood asreferring tothewhole territory oftheE.C.
With respect tothetreatment accorded toforeign services and/or suppliers, suchtreatment
depends onthemultilateral orbilateral agreements signed bytheE.U. Seequestion 11.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page24
Article 36oftheUtilities Directive provides forapreference rule.Thisarticle applies totenders
comprisingproductsoriginatinginthirdcountrieswithwhichtheCommunityhasnotconcluded,
multilaterally orbilaterally, anagreement ensuring comparable andeffective access for
Community undertakings tothemarkets ofthose thirdcountries. Where twoormore tenders
areequivalent inthelightoftheaward criteria (they areequivalent ifthepricedifference does
notexceed 3%), preference shallbegiven tothetenders where theproportion oftheproducts
originating inthirdcountries doesnotexceed 50%ofthetotalvalue oftheproducts constituting
thetender. Moreover, ifthere arenoequivalent tenders, contracting entities stillmayreject
non-Communitytendersasdefined.Thisruleappliesregardlessofthenationalityofthetenderer.
Following theimposition ofsanctions against theCommunity bytheUSunder TitleVIIof
its1988Trade Act,theCommunity tookcounter measures asitconsidered thatsuchsanctions
wereunfair andunjustified. Therefore, theCouncil approved Regulation n°1461/93 concerning
access topublic contracts fortenderers from theUnited States ofAmerica (OJL146,
17.6.1993). ThisRegulation wassubsequently completed byRegulation n°1836/95 (OJL183/4,
2.8.1995) asaresult oftheenlargement oftheCommunity. Those measures areapplied without
prejudice totheobligations oftheCommunity anditsMember States towards thirdcountries,
andtotheobligations inrespect oftheGPA.
Procedures forhearing andreviewing complaints/appeals
10. What,ifanyaretheproceduresavailableforparties,domesticandforeign,tolodgecomplaints
against theaward ofacontract? Please provide details.
Theruleisthatanypotential contractor whoconsiders thathehasbeeninjured byanunlawful
decision onthepartofacontracting authority mayseekreview. There aretwolevels ofremedies
available: national procedures andE.C. levelcontrol.
(i) Regarding national remedies, theCommunity hasissued twodirectives (theso-called
Remedies Directives, seesupra )aiming toco-ordinate thelaws, regulations and
administrative provisions relating totheapplication ofCommunity rules onthe
procurement procedures. Theobjective istoensure thateveryone everywhere hasthe
same rights concerning thereview procedures.
These directives provide fortheestablishment inevery Member State ofcourts or
tribunals withrealpowers tosettle theconflicts which might arisebetween contracting
entities andfirms, suppliers ofservices orindividuals. Thismeans thatinevery Member
Statethereissome legally authorized bodyabletoresolve conflicts inthefieldofpublic
procurement. Nevertheless, jurisdiction nature maydiffer fromoneMember Stateto
another, aswellastheremedies available. Review bodies atfirstinstance might not
benecessarily judicial incharacter, although theirdecision should always bereasoned.
However, insuchacase, theirdecision mustbesubject tojudicial review orreview
byanother body which isacourt ortribunal within themeaning ofarticle 177ofthe
Treaty, andindependent ofboththecontracting entity andthereview body. This
independent body shalltakeitsdecisions following aprocedure inwhich bothsides
areheard, andthese decisions shall, bymeans determined byeachMember State, be
legally binding.
Review procedures areavailable atleasttoanyperson having orhaving hadaninterest
inobtaining aparticular contract andwhohasbeenorrisksbeing harmed byanalleged
infringement.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page25
Member States mustensure thatthereview bodies haveaminimum number ofpowers.
Firstly, power totake,attheearliest opportunity andbywayofinterlocutory procedure,
interim measures, including measures tosuspend ortoensure thesuspension ofthe
procedure fortheaward ofacontract ortheimplementation ofanydecision taken by
thecontracting entity. Secondly, power tosetasidedecisions taken unlawfully. Thirdly,
thepower toaward damages topersons injured bytheinfringement.
TheUtilities Remedies Directive provides foraspecial procedure known asattestation.
Contracting entities aregiven thepossibility ofhaving recourse toanattestation system
inwhich contract award procedures areperiodically examined byindependent bodies
withaviewofobtaining anattestation that,atthattime, those procedures andpractices
areinconformity withCommunity lawconcerning theaward ofcontracts andthe
national rules implementing thelaw.
IftheRemedies directives havenotbeendulyimplemented, parties maybring acase
against theMember State inquestion before anational court ofthatState, invoking
theECJcaselawwhich states thattheMember State could beliable forunduly
implementation ofdirectives, provided thatsome requirements aremet(seeECJ
judgments incases Francovitch andBrasserie duPecheur).
There isalsoamixed procedure. Anynational court canraiseapreliminary question
before theEuropean Court ofJustice inLuxembourg inorder toobtain ajudgment
interpreting theE.C.lawprovision which might beapplicable tothecase.During the
procedurebeforetheECJ,theCommissionisallowedtointerveneandexpressitsviews.
After theruling oftheEuropean Court ofJustice, thenational court "aquo"mustrule
inthecaseinquestion according totheinterpretation given. Seearticle 177oftheE.C.
Treaty.
(ii) Inwhatconcerns E.C.review procedures, parties canlodge complaints withtheE.C.
Commission, possibly atthesame timeasadomestic legalaction, withthelatter not
being anecessary preliminary tothelodging ofsuchacomplaint. Acomplaint can
betreated inconfidence anddoesnotinvolve anyexpense.
TheCommission examines thosecomplaints, andwhen itconsiders thataninfringement
ofCommunity provisions inthefieldofprocurement hasbeencommitted, itcanopen
theprocedure established inarticles 169and170oftheTreaty, which, afterprior
consultations between theCommission andtheMember State, canleadtotheadoption
ofadecision bytheEuropean Court ofJustice. There isaspecial procedure under
article 3ofthePublic Remedies directive andarticle 8oftheRemedies Utilities
directive inthecasethattheCommission considers thataninfringement hasbeen
committed prior toacontract being concluded.
TheCommission canalso,under articles 186oftheE.C.Treaty and83oftheProcedure
Regulation oftheCourt, seek,inaninterlocutory procedure before theCourt ofJustice,
toobtain thesuspension oftheaward procedure.S/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
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II. MEMBERSHIP OF PLURILATERAL, REGIONAL AND/OR BILATERAL
AGREEMENTS
11. IstheMember party toanyplurilateral, regional and/or bilateral agreements withprovisions
ongovernment procurement? Ifso,please describe therelevant provisions.
TheEuropean Communities andtheir Member States areaparty totheAgreement on
Government Procurement concluded within theframework oftheWTO onaplurilateral basis
(Tokyo Round andUruguay Round).
Bilateral agreements towhich theEuropean Communities andtheirMember States areaparty
andwhich contain certain provisions relating togovernment procurement havebeenindicated
inthetablebelow.
Type ofagreement Contracting parties
totheagreementDescription oftherelevant provisions oftheagreement
Agreement inthe
form ofexchange of
lettersongover-nment
procurementUSA The agreement lays down provisions relating togovernment
procurement between theparties andinparticular itbroadens the
scope ofcommitments ofboth parties under theGPA.
"Europe" Agreements Poland,
Hungary,
Bulgaria,
Romania,
Slovakia,
Czech Republic
Slovenia, Estonia,
Latvia &Lithuania
(notyetratified).-The parties 'objective istoopen uptheaward ofpublic contracts
onthebasis ofnon-discrimination andreciprocity.
-Itprovides forprogressive implementation ofnational treatment
principle inrespect tocontract award procedures.
-Establishment, operations, supply ofservices andmovement of
labour linked tofulfilment ofpublic contracts aresubject to
general provisions which regulate movement ofworkers,
establishment andsupply ofservices between theparties.
EEA: Agreement on
theEuropean
Economic AreaIceland
Liechtenstein
NorwayThe agreement lays down specific provisions andarrangements
concerning application bythenon-EC parties certain EClegislation
regulating procurement.
ACP-EC
Convention ofLoméACP countries:
Africa, Caribbean,
Pacific.Theagreement provides forpreferential treatment ofnatural and
legal persons ofACP countries inrespect ofaward oftenders of
contracts financed byEuropean Development Fund within the
scope offinancing ofcooperation.
Partnership and
Cooperation
AgreementsRussia,
Ukraine.Public procurement isbeing indicated asanarea ofcooperation
aiming atdeveloping conditions foropen andcompetitive awards
ofcontracts forgoods andservices, inparticular through calls for
tenders.
Euro-Mediterranean
AgreementTunisia Theparties shall aimatareciprocal andgradual liberalization of
public procurement contracts.
Euro-Mediterranean
AgreementIsrael Theparties shall takemeasures with aview toamutual opening of
their government procurement markets and theprocurement
markets ofundertakings operating intheutilities sectors for
purchase ofgoods, works and services beyond thescope of
obligations under theGPA.
Procurementby
telecom operatorsIsrael (signed, notyet
ratified).Mutual opening oftheir government procurement market and
procurement markets ofundertakings operating inthetelecom
sector forthepurchase ofgoods, works andservices beyond the
scope ofobligations under theGPAS/WPGR/W/11/Add.10
Page27
III. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OFSERVICES PROCUREMENT
12.
(a) Please provide statistics (ifavailable) onthenumber andvalue ofservices procurements:
-onboth anaggregate andsectoral basis
-byorigin ofservices andsuppliers
services sectoral classification indocument MTN.GNS/W/120
(b) Please provide statistics (ifavailable) onthe
-share ofservices procurement intotal procurement
-share ofprocurement ofeach service intotal domestic output oftheservice
-share ofprocurement ofeach service intotal domestic consumption oftheservice
Noaccurate andrelevant data available.