Questions/Answers
Question 1
Please describe the objective of the initiative introduced (200 words maximum)
The objective of the initiative is to digitize public procurement in order to improve efficiency, accountability, transparency and competition with its overall management and ensure better public service delivery for ensuring value for money in Bangladesh. It is the part of the government vision for building Digital Bangladesh by 2021.
Question 2
Please explain how the initiative is linked to the category and criteria selected (100 words maximum)
Public procurement is a legal and managerial process. It involves multi-stakeholders managed under a legal framework. The principles of the process are mainly transparency, accountability, non-discrimination, free and fair treatment and integrity. This process earlier was managed manually (paper based). Under that system it has been difficult to ensure those principles. To ensure these and make the process more efficient the government is transforming the whole procurement system into digital technology which is called electronic government procurement (e-GP). It has reduced processing time and costs increased competition and ensured transparency.
Question 3
Please describe in what ways the initiative is contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the SDGs. Specify which SDG(s) it is relevant to. (100 words maximum)
It is contributing to making procurement sustainable and digitization to improve public service delivery which are mentioned in SDG (12.7.1)
Question 4
The initiative must have positive impact on a group or groups of the population, especially the vulnerable (i.e. children, women, older persons, people with disabilities, etc.) within the context of your country or region. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant shortfall in governance, public administration or public service within the context of a given country or region. (200 words maximum)
As per World Bank Study, the e-GP is saving costs in procurement by 13-20 per cent annually on an average. About 85 per cent tenders are now awarded on schedule in e-GP which was only 10 per cent in 2007. Now 100 per cent information about contracts and awards are available to public which was 15 per cent in 2007. Average number of responsive tenders per invitation is now 8 which was only 4 in 2007. Thus it is contributing in improvement in governance and public service delivery. Under the paper based system governance in public procurement suffered from waste of money and time lapses.
Question 5
a. Please explain in which way the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region (100 words maximum)
It is the single most sector which accounts for about 80 per cent of Annual Development Programme in Bangladesh.The digitization of public procurement is innovative in Bangladesh because no other sector could attain such success. The private sector tenderers and the government procuring entities have accepted the innovation gladly which is user-friendly, simple, secure and speedy.
b. Please describe if the innovation is original or if it is an adaptation from other contexts (100 words maximum)
The e-GP system in Bangladesh is managed centrally by CPTU but it is open to all registered procuring agencies and tenderers as a decentralized innovative tool.
Question 6
Has the initiative been transferred and adapted to in other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions) to your organization’s knowledge? If yes, please explain (100 words maximum)
It has been adapted by Bhutan and Nepal.
Question 7
a. What resources (i.e. financial, human or others) were used to implement the initiative? (100 words maximum)
e-GP experts, technical know-hows, data centre, hardware and software. The e-GP guidelines are there under the law to operate the system.
b. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable (covering the social, economic and environmental aspects) (200 words maximum)
The e-GP system is self-reliant and self-earning from registration, document sales and other fees. It is economical and sound environmentally.
Question 8
a. Has the initiative been formally evaluated either through internal or external evaluation?
Yes
e-GP system has been evaluated by independent third party on a sample basis.
b. Please describe the indicators that were used (100 words maximum)
The indicators include time, process and system easiness and other benefits.
c. Please describe the outcome of the evaluation (100 words maximum)
The e-GP is saving costs in procurement by 13-20 per cent annually on an average. About 85 per cent tenders are now awarded on schedule in e-GP which was only 10 per cent in 2007. Now 100 per cent information about contracts and awards are available to public which was 15 per cent in 2007. Average number of responsive tenders per invitation is now 8 which was only 4 in 2007.
Question 9
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, coordination, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe what and how stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative. Please also highlight their roles and contributions (200 words maximum)
Through consultation with procuring agencies, tenderers. policy makers, media and civil society and financial institutions.
Question 10
Please describe the key lessons learned, and any view you have on how to further improve the initiative (100 words maximum)
Lessons are very positive. The e-GP is saving costs in procurement by 13-20 per cent annually on an average. About 85 per cent tenders are now awarded on schedule in e-GP which was only 10 per cent in 2007. Now 100 per cent information about contracts and awards are available to public which was 15 per cent in 2007. Average number of responsive tenders per invitation is now 8 which was only 4 in 2007. The system can further be simplified and more user-friendly.