The Al Maqta’a bidding hall, which was set up in the UAE to ensure transparency in the bidding process, has processed 69 tenders worth more than Dh27 billion ($7.3 billion) raised by 12 government entities in Abu Dhabi within its first year of operations, said the Department of Finance - Abu Dhabi (DoF).

 

The hall, located in the DoF headquarters of the DoF, was launched in May last year.

 

The tenders included capital and operational project tenders worth more than Dh100 million ($27.2 million from government organisations including Abu Dhabi General Services ‘Musanada’, Al Ain City Municipality, Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC), Tadweer Waste Management, Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company, the Department of Transport – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi City Municipality, Al Ain Distribution Company, Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company, Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation.

 

“By developing the bidding hall’s operations, we are striving to enhance coordination between all government entities, to attract more foreign investment and strengthen the competitiveness of the emirate’s economy,” Salah Mohamed Al Weswasi, executive director of Financial Policies and Systems Sector at DoF – Abu Dhabi.

 

The establishment of the hall reflects the Government of Abu Dhabi’s aim to implement the best corporate governance practices within the field of government tenders, as well as achieve greater transparency, enhance economic competitiveness, attract more foreign investments, and strengthen ties between various government agencies in Abu Dhabi, he added.

 

The bidding hall’s operations are based on five stages including tender preparation and announcement; receiving the technical and financial proposal for the bids from suppliers and contractors within the deadline; the opening of technical proposals under the management of the assigned supervisory committee and in the presence of other government bodies; reviewing the technical proposals and shortlisting the best entries; and opening financial tenders under the management of the assigned supervisory committee.

 

After obtaining approval from the supervisory committee, the tender process is completed by transferring the tender bids to the respective tendering government entity.

 

The suppliers and contractors can also submit their bids electronically, by uploading their proposals to designated webpages within a specified timeframe.

 

The secretary of the assigned supervisory committee handles the opening of all electronic presentations and all approvals are recorded by video and cell phones are prohibited in the hall, to ensure transparency during the tender process.

 

The bidding hall has been equipped with the latest systems and advanced technologies in order to manage logistics related to processing bids. -TradeArabia News Service