The limited competition at public procurement contests is an effect of the limited participation by business entities in these and of the inefficient allocation of public money. Eight local public authorities, monitored by the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul” for producing a report on government procurement, in the completed questionnaires noted that they had to annul public procurement procedures owing to the lack of competition. Each of these annulled 3 to 19 procedures during the last two years, IPN reports.

The participants in an online debate staged by “Viitorul” and Radio Free Europe said the limited participation by business entities in public procurement contests is due to the insufficient informing about the planned contests and to the lack of knowledge about public procurement among possible bidders. Among the reasons for the annulment of such contests is the presentation of incomplete bids by economic operators.

According to Diana Enachi, one of the authors of the monitoring report, the public authorities can organize training courses for economic operators, if not free, at least for a fee, but not a large one. “I think none of the business entities are against being familiarized with the public procurement procedures in exchange for a not too high fee,” stated the expert.

The participants in the debate agreed that training courses are also needed by the members of working groups for organizing public tender contests. The contracting authorities not always respect the legislation on conflicts of interests when persons are chosen to work on these groups.

The experts said that training courses were staged in June for members of working groups for organizing public tender contests. These were familiarized with the provisions of the new Law on Public Procurement. But such courses should be held on a regular basis.