RESTRICTED
GENERAL AGREEMENT GPA/IC/W/7
26October 1994
ONTARIFFS AND TRADE
(94-2117)
Original: English Interim Committee onGovernment Procurement
QUESTIONNAIRE ONINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INGOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Response bySweden
Theattached communication contains thereplies from thedelegation ofSweden tothe
questionnaire onInformation Technology inGovernment Procurement contained in
document GPA/IC/W/4/Rev.1, dated 16September 1994.GPA/IC/W/7
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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INGOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Replies received from Sweden
Inanswering theSecretariat 'squestions ontheuseofinformation technology inpublic
procurement wewould liketopoint outthatSweden 'slegislation onpublic procurement isadapted
toEClegislation.
Onthegeneral issue ofinformation technology inpublic procurement itcanbenoted thata
traditional hard-copy system ofadvertising willfortheforeseeable future stillbeused. Small companies
donotyethavethepossibilities totakeadvantage ofinformation technology. Inlarger corporations,
search forbusiness opportunities anddecisions onpublic tendering isdoneatahighlevelinthecompany
where newspaper-form ofinformation isstillpreferred. Also, on-line communication isexpensive.
1. Could delegations giveabriefdescription ofanystepstaken orplanned tointroduce information
technology (electronic commerce) intopublic procurement? Ifso,doesthiscover contracts which
arecovered under theAgreement presently inforce, orunder thenewly-signed Agreement? Atall
levels ofgovernment? Intheevent thatdelegations arenotconsidering introducing information
technology intopublic procurement, could theyexplain thereasons?
Public procurement opportunities areadvertised intheOfficial Journal oftheEuropean Union,
which isalsoavailable electronically viatheTED system. Theobligation toadvertise includes all
levels ofgovernment. AsanEEA country, Sweden participates inthework oftheMD-12 group of
theECCommission. Sweden hasnonational database.
2. What function(s) would information technology serve insuchsystems andwhowillbetheusers?
N/A
3. Could delegations describe thetechnical aspects ofthesystems inuseorplanned? Inparticular
asregards infrastructure/hardware-software anditsoptions/standards?
WerefertotheTED system.
4. Could delegations describe anylimitations affecting access toinformation available inasystem?
How wideispotential access tointerested suppliers? What aretheaccess possibilities forsuppliers
ofother signatory countries? What possible obstacles toaccess might arise forsuppliers inother
signatory countries?
Nolimitations. Potential suppliers needaPC,amodem andatelephone line. TheFederation
ofSwedish Industry ismember ofUNICE which isrepresented intheCommission-committee onpublic
procurement.GPA/IC/W/7
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5. Hasanythought beengiven tothequestion ofinteraction between electronic tendering and
theobligations concerning publication andtime-limits imposed bytheAgreement?
Yes,theyarebeing metunder thepresent system.
6. Forthose delegations whouseadatabase which listsgovernment procurement opportunities:
(i) What isthename ofthisdatabase?
(ii) Howlonghasthedatabase beenoperational andhowmany suppliers usethedatabase?
(iii) Isafeecharged tosuppliers using thissystem? Ifso,howmuch, andwhatisincluded
inthefee?
(iv) Cansuppliers obtain tender documentation electronically? Ifso,how?
(v) How isinformation onthedatabase organized?
(vi) Does thedatabase offer anyother features?
(vii) What istheapproximate number ofprocurement opportunities listed onthedatabase
annually?
(viii) Isthesystem managed bythegovernment oraprivate company?
Asfor3.