New e-Tendering service



ictQATAR, State Audit Bureau to launch new e-Tendering service


(Doha, Qatar 11 June, 2008): The Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) announced today the soft launch of new online services that will streamline the tendering process for companies wanting to do business with the government of Qatar. ""This is part of a nationwide effort to make government work better for those who live and work in Qatar,"" said Yousef Al-Naama, i-Gov Program Manager, ictQATAR on the sidelines of the first international Asia anti-corruption conference held in Doha.

The new e-tendering service, part of ictQATAR's integrated e-Government program (i-Gov), aim to improve the tendering process, increase government transparency and increase fairness. When the roll-out of the online service is completed, companies will be able to access two types of government tenders - public and private. Initially, the services for private tenders will be officially launched by July 2008 as a pilot program in two government agencies, ictQATAR and the State Audit Bureau (SAB), registering and bidding will be by invitation only

Yousef Al-Naama added, ""The e-tendering service will make it easier for companies to do business with the Qatari government. These services will also make government processes more efficient and reduce operational costs.""

The new service will be accessible through Hukoomi, Qatar's online government portal, www.gov.qa. Over the next year, ictQATAR expects to expand the services to additional government agencies, as well as make public government tenders available on the portal. The e-tendering project is being implemented in collaboration with Mannai/Oracle Corporation, who are the business partners involved in developing the solution.

""Qatar's government is committed to ensuring that citizens and businesses enjoy the benefit ICT can bring. We anticipate these new service will encourage more companies to do business with the Qatari government and increase the fairness in the tendering process,"" said Badreya Khinji, Head of Internal Control Office, SAB.

Ali Ahmed Al-Kuwari, Finance Director, ictQATAR affirmed, ""Government agencies will truly benefit from the online tendering process. At ictQATAR, we expect to be able to greatly increase our tendering process efficiency. The process will be reliable and will save time for both the government and the vendors.""

In the future, companies wishing to participate in the e-tendering process should first register online through Hukoomi, indicating their interest in contracting with the Qatari government. Once registered, businesses will be able to bid on public government tenders and can be invited to bid on private government tenders. Companies will also be able to download necessary tender documents, participate in online discussions and submit their formal bids online.

The review of submitted bids will also be streamlined through the new service, allowing the government tendering committee to review both the technical and financial aspects of submitted bids. Following the standardized scoring process of evaluation, companies that submitted a bid will be notified electronically of the contract award.



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