KATHMANDU, Aug 16: The government has introduced mandatory implementation of the electronic procurement (E-procurement) system to create an environment where the public procurement process is more transparent, competitive and not monopolized by limited bidders. At present, 5,706 public bodies, 46,722 willing bidders, and 2,743 bank branches have integrated this system, said Dr Damodar Regmi, secretary of the Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO).

So far, a total of 159,660 tender notices have been published in the said system and 552,904 tenders have been included for competition. It is mandatory for all public bodies to adopt the electronic procurement system while purchasing goods or services worth more than Rs 2 million.

Secretary Regmi said that all public bodies and interested bidders should submit an application to the office and acquire a user name and password for accessing the electronic procurement information system, bolpatra.gov.np created by the PPMO. For this, the Electronic Procurement System Operation Directive, 2080 BS and the said directive is available on the office's website. It is said that all public bodies except the three levels of government must adopt this system.

According to the PPMO, all constitutional bodies or agencies, courts, ministries, secretariats, commissions, departments or any other government agencies or offices under it must adopt the bidding system and the electronic procurement system compulsorily in the procurement of more than Rs 2 million.

The mandatory adoption of the bidding system and electronic procurement system applies to all institutions, companies, banks or committees predominantly owned or controlled by the government or commissions, departments, authorities, corporations, foundations, boards, centers established or formed at the public level in accordance with the prevailing laws shall also act accordingly. Additionally, the system must be adopted in councils and other organized institutions of a similar nature, government-run universities, colleges, research centers and other academic or educational institutions of a similar nature, all local levels, development committees, organizations in operation with loans or grants from the Government of Nepal, including those who rely on electronic procurement.

The office is going to conduct intensive training on the facilitation of the electronic procurement system and is also going to conduct a 'procurement clinic' to resolve the ambiguity in the procurement agencies.

 
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