120 firms blacklisted for public procurement lapses in seven months

As many as 120 firms and companies that failed to follow procurement laws and procedures have been blacklisted over the past seven months.

The Public Procurement Monitoring Office under the Prime Minister's Office has placed these companies on the blacklist since Chaitra 13 last year. The office said those that failed to perform work as per contract agreements or failed to fulfil procurement-related responsibilities were placed on the list.

The office said the step was taken in line with the government's goal of making the procurement process accountable and reliable. Since the current government was formed, legal reforms have also been pursued to increase transparency and competition in the procurement system.

The second amendment to the Public Procurement Act, 2063 BS, has already come into effect, along with the fifteenth and sixteenth amendments to the Procurement Regulations, 2064 BS. Nine standard bidding document (SBD) formats used in the procurement of goods and construction works have been revised accordingly.