Going local en la cabeza

We plan Public Procurement Act amendments about easier access of small businesses, more transparency: Bulgarian PM

Sofia. We plan amendments to the Public Procurement Act to ease the access of smaller businesses and ensure more transparency in tenders, Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski said in the parliament, while presenting a report on the government’s performance, FOCUS News Agency reported.

“We held working meetings with employers’ organizations, associations in the tourist sector, the leaders of the two trade unions, with the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria, and NGOs to discuss and outline measures for overcoming the crisis,” said the PM.

Northern contractors blast biased public procurement

Three of the largest regional contractors in the North of England have fired a broadside at the Government’s procurement strategy for favouring national operators. The letter states: “While twelve firms have been selected for the north panel and twelve for the south – nine of the firms selected are on both. How can this deliver fair competition?”

The firms also blasted the Scape framework which required bidders to have a minimum £500m turnover while contracts let can be as small as £2m. They said: “Few regional contractors meet this turnover criterion whereas many are more than capable of carrying out the work.”

Gansler proposes procurement preference for Maryland-made goods

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D), who is gearing up to announce his bid for governor in September, on Friday proposed the creation of a new preference in the state procurement process for Maryland-made goods and services. The initiative was part of a package of ideas put forward by Gansler to bolster the state’s manufacturing sector during an appearance at a United Auto Workers hall in Hagerstown.

Gansler offered limited details on how a “Buy Maryland” preference would work, but said it would be “a significant factor” in the procurement decisions made by state agencies. “If it’s of the same quality and competitively priced, there ought to be a preference,” he told reporters