Kuwait updates hygiene, security contract rules for cooperatives

• At the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies’headquarters, sealed bids for custody and hygiene offers must be placed in secure, non-reproducible boxes, with no identifying information.

Dr. Amthal Al Huwailah, Minister of Social, Family, and Childhood Affairs, has announced amendments to the Cooperative Action Regulation, initially established under Ministerial Decree No. 46/T of 2021, according to Q8-Press.

The decision states the following in Article 71 of the Regulation on Organizing Cooperative Work, issued by Ministerial Decree No. 46 of 2021:

Article 71

The association shall conclude hygiene and security contracts based on advertisements in two daily newspapers and on the association’s social media sites, after obtaining approval from the ministry. The announcement shall include the conditions and deadlines for submitting offers, with the advertising period not to be less than ten working days.

At the headquarters of the Union of Consumer Cooperative Societies, one or more funds, each with a single key, shall be allocated to each non-reproducible box kept by the Ministry for storing tenders related to custody and hygiene offers. Bids must be placed in sealed envelopes by the bidders, without any information that could reveal the identity of the bidder or lead to exclusion.

Second Article

Article (71) shall be added to the Regulation on the Organization of Cooperative Work, issued by Ministerial Decree No. 46 of 2021, as follows:

Article (71): A committee shall be formed by a decision of the Undersecretary of the ministry to open the envelopes and evaluate the tenders submitted for security and hygiene offers in cooperatives. The decision to form the committee will define its terms of reference and working procedures.

The envelopes shall be opened, and the contract awarded to the winning bidder at the headquarters of the Federation of Consumer Cooperative Societies, in the presence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors or their representative, and members of the Board of Directors. In the Chairman’s absence, the committee shall continue its work.

Any tender owner whose bid has been excluded or not awarded may submit a complaint within ten working days from the date the envelopes are opened to the Grievances Committee referenced in Article 35 of this decision, in accordance with its procedures.

Upon finalizing the award, the association must conclude the custody or hygiene contract and notify the ministry by official letter, attaching a copy of the contract for ratification.

Third Article

This decision shall enter into force on the date of its issuance and publication in the Official Gazette, and the competent authorities shall implement its provisions.