Gulf Daily News: Bahrain marks a first in open government; transparent bidding
Bahrain, Politics, 2/6/2003

Gulf Daily News reported today that "tenders submitted by 22 contractors for four government projects were opened in public for the first time yesterday. Contractors and suppliers who bid for the jobs, as well as the Press, watched as sealed boxes were opened at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre."

Gulf Daily News said "The event was supervised by Tender Council members, headed by chairman and Minister of State Abdulhussain Ali Mirza. Prices quoted by each contractor were displayed on a screen. The biggest of the four contracts was a works and Housing Ministry project for the dredging and reclamation of shoreline protection works at Bander Seef development, in Busaiteen and West Hidd."

Gulf Daily News said Mr Mirza said the lowest bidder would be awarded the job provided they meet all the technical specifications. "After matching the prices with the specifications, the ministries will send the document back to us," he said.

"Only if the lowest bidder fails to meet technical specifications can the ministry go for the next bidder," he noted. "However, there should be enough justifications to do so. The council has the right to check it again...This is a major step towards the government's transparency process...All government purchasing will also come under the supervision of the Tender Council in future," he revealed.

"We are thankful to His Majesty King Hamad, Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and BDF Commander-in-Chief Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa for entrusting us with such a very demanding task," Gulf Daily News reported adding "The tendering process is so transparent that no contractor can later claim that there was a fabrication or that he gave a lower price than the one who was awarded the contract, said Finance and National Economy Ministry Under-Secretary and Tender Council member Shaikh Ibrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa."

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