UNCITRAL UNODC United Nations Commission on International Trade

UNCITRAL UNODC United Nations Commission on International Trade Law United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENHANCING INTEGRITY IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT The role of new technologies in public procurement Caroline Nicholas UNODC/UNCITRAL Rabat, Morocco 3 April 2008

The role of new technologies in public procurement UN Convention Against Corruption • Article 9 – requirements for procurement systems • Transparency, competition and objective criteria in decision-making UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

The role of new technologies in public procurement UNCAC Requirements mean: • Legislative framework • Regulations • Institutional, administrative and legal infrastructure UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

The role of new technologies in public procurement Legislative framework • UNCITRAL 1994 Model Law on Procurement • In process of revision (UNCAC compliant) • e-communications/e-procurement to be introduced • Similar provisions in other international texts UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

The role of new technologies in public procurement E-procurement – why? • Efficient new procurement methods • Opportunity to achieve many procurement objectives • More information, better controls • Major potential benefit - enhanced transparency UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

The role of new technologies in public procurement How to translate good intentions into results • Not enough to create a website • Vital to integrate procurement, accountability + oversight systems • Vital role of transparency UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

The role of new technologies in public procurement UNCITRAL Model Law revisions • E-communications – “Functional equivalent approach” – Writing, signature, record or meeting can be by e-communication • Legal recognition not in Model Law – in e-commerce laws UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

The role of new technologies in public procurement E-communications under UNCITRAL • Means of communication chosen by procuring entity, • No justification, but safeguards • Approach allows e-tenders UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

The role of new technologies in public procurement Safeguards under UNCITRAL: • Choice of communications subject to nondiscrimination provisions – “readily capable of being utilized with those in common use by suppliers or contractors” • Means of communication set out in solicitation documents • Measures to ensure authenticity, integrity and confidentiality required UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

The role of new technologies in public procurement Electronic reverse auction (ERA) • Bidding prices down over the Internet • Commonly used, regulation varies • Auctions not previously permitted under Model Law UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

The role of new technologies in public procurement Transparency provisions (1) • In solicitation documents – – Criteria to determine the successful bid Price/non-price criteria Relative weight of criteria Mathematical formula UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

The role of new technologies in public procurement Transparency provisions (2) • In solicitation documents – Any limits on numbers – Initial bids required • Other/elsewhere – All other relevant information (list? ) UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

The role of new technologies in public procurement E-procurement – useful new tool • E-procurement = reform process • Not just replacing letters with emails http: //www. unodc. org/ http: //www. uncitral. org/ UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNCITRAL United Nations Commission on International Trade Law