The minister, Dr Abdul Hussein Mirza, who is also chairman of the Bahrain Tender Board, said: "The board has decided to implement the VARStreet solution (which was done through a tender) to provide a centralised online system to streamline the tendering process, provide greater transparency, better procurement practices and higher levels of service to various ministries in their tendering process."
The system will provide a single interface to the government purchasing authorities, suppliers and the tender board and automate activities performed by the parties by integrating them on a single electronic network. Among the key benefits the system will bring to BTB is a reduction in the administrative cost and improved accuracy of orders.
"Since its inception on January 7, 2003, the board has strived to enhance and further consolidate the values of transparency, fairness and integrity and to achieve the principle of equal opportunity. The board has endeavored to achieve further transparency at all phases of procedure application and to additionally secure competitiveness, fairness and equal opportunity. Towards that the BTB has initiated several initiatives over the last few years like Databank which helps in speeding up procedures and decision making. As a next step, the Tender Board has initiated the e-Tendering project to further enhance the process and increase transparency. This was based on the results of a Business Process Re-engineering study carried out by the Tender Board in the last year."
He added: "BTB's objective through the e-tendering system is to manage all tenders and government purchases online. The system will help in announcing bids, receiving documents, opening bids, and announcing tender awards.
The use of e-Tendering in other parts of the world has already illustrated its ability to reduce administrative costs and processing time, as well as increasing the quality and transparency of decision making and reducing the number of complaints. Upon completion of this project which is expected in about 6 months time, the e-Tendering system will enable the Tender Board to eliminate unnecessary overheads and thus further speed up the tendering process.
Through hard and constructive work, the Tender Board has extended bridges of co-operation between the Board and the Government Purchasing Authorities, on one hand and the local and external contractors and suppliers on the other hand. The aim is to ensure that Government purchases are obtained at fair and competitive prices. After the e-Tendering system goes live, the Board will encourage all Government Purchasing Authorities to use the system online as well as contractors and suppliers through a comprehensive training schedule."
Al Nadeem Information Technology, a leading IT firm providing professional IT solutions and services, along with VARStreet and Mastek, a global systems integrator, will create the online system to manage all tenders and government purchases, as well as improved communication with contractors and suppliers.
"We are excited to assist BTB in meeting its business objectives with our world-class solution and we look forward to working with the ministries and suppliers in utilising the solution both in Bahrain and elsewhere across the Middle East region," said Ubaydli Ubaydli, CEO of Al Nadeem Information Technology.
Quelle/Source: Zawya, 02.10.2007
