Government outlines six key exceptions for direct contracting

• The Central Agency for Public Tenders aims to expedite tender decisions to boost project completion rates and ensure government agencies maintain progress.

The Central Agency for Public Tenders has outlined six specific cases where government entities may contract with companies through direct orders or limited practices, subject to prior approval from the authority, according to Al Qabas newspaper.

The authority emphasized in its circular to government entities that, based on Article 18 of the Public Tenders Law No. 46 of 2016, concerning contracting by limited practice or direct order with the authority’s approval, the entity’s request must fall under one of the following cases:

1. Items those are exclusively manufactured, imported, or available from specific entities or individuals, or when a single contractor possesses the technical expertise and capabilities to provide the required purchases or holds exclusive rights to produce goods or perform the required works or services, with no suitable alternatives available.
2. Items whose nature or intended purpose necessitates their selection or purchase directly from the place of production.
3. Artworks that, due to their nature, require execution by specific technicians, specialists, or experts.
4. Procurement of additional quantities of goods from the original supplier, or additional equipment or services from the original contractor, either to partially replace those items or to complement previous works, or if the purchases are listed in collective procurement guides.
5. Expanding or upgrading existing equipment.
6. Goods that can be sourced from entities with social purposes, including organizations marketing products made by individuals with special needs, national non-profit public benefit associations, or small and medium-sized enterprises supported by the state.

Public tenders fast-tracked

The Central Agency for Public Tenders is working to expedite the decision-making process for public tenders submitted by government agencies. This effort focuses on swiftly completing the documentation cycle, recognizing its vital role in enhancing project completion rates and ensuring that government agencies maintain the required pace of work and development.