Liberal-Democrats propose preferential margin for local public procurement

The Liberal-Democrat representatives to the Parliament propose a preferential margin for the purchase of goods and services destined for local producers. The Parliament’s Committee for Economy, Budget and Finance have devised an amendment bill to the Law on Public Procurement. Th committee's head Veaceslav Ionita told Info-Prim Neo that this bill aims at encouraging local collaboration between producers and mayor's offices. The bill stipulates a 10% preferential margin towards the producers within the radius of the contracting authority’s commune or district. In other words, if two or more bidders participate in a public auction for the provision of a product of equal quality to a public institution, priority is given to the local entrepreneur, even if its price proposal may be up to 10% higher than that of its competitors. Veaceslav Ionita mentioned that he has reached the decision to promote such a bill after meeting with producers from Hancesti, who complained that their administration works with producers from other districts. During debates within the Committee for Economy, Budget and Finance, the Socialist MP, Igor Dodon, suggested that the nature of the purchases should be specified briefly in the bill. According to the MP, these amendments shouldn’t apply to construction service providers, for example. Meanwhile, Igor Dodon said that the amendment shouldn’t include the municipalities of Chisinau and Balti, because these should be open to proposals from external producers as well. The Communist MPs refused to endorse the bill, arguing that this amendment will allow local authorities to pressure businesses. The bill has passed on, however, thanks to the votes of MPs from the Alliance for European Integration and the Socialist Party, and is to be considered by Parliament.