The UAE is preparing to evaluate tech solutions offered by developers for the new procurement platform it intends to introduce next year.
Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, minister of state for financial affairs, chaired a meeting of the Ministry of Possibilities’ Department of Government Procurement, which looked at how to develop supply contracts, including identifying legal contract models and price agreements, for specific categories.
The department was announced in April 2019 by UAE vice president and Dubai leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
It aims to establish a federal government procurement platform that aligns with UAE Vision 2021 and improves the efficiency of government spending.
The meeting also looked at establishing detailed procurement methodology for all procurement categories and the development of a RACI matrix, which maps out tasks, milestones and key decisions, to manage projects.
The meeting also considered the preparation of KPIs to measure the platform’s performance and evaluated research into government procurement methodologies in more developed countries.
Obaid Al Tayer said: “This platform will allow us to achieve the highest levels of efficiency, effectiveness and transparency in public procurement in the country, and will foster a culture of innovation in government work.
“The procurement platform will provide an open working environment for all federal government entities and suppliers, providing SME owners with easy access to business opportunities.”
He added that it would improve sustainability by focusing on eco-friendly products and services and supporting the development of the local economy, especially via the selection of suppliers.
The digital government procurement platform is scheduled to be open to all federal entities by the end of 2020, although a pilot version will be available to five federal ministries during the second quarter of next year.
The Ministry of Finance held a series of workshops for SME owners to inform them of the business opportunities and benefits they can gain by working with the federal government.
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