Abu Dhabi 7 July 2015

The Department of Finance- Abu Dhabi (DoF) has announced that the "Al Maqta'a bidding hall", launched in May 2014, processed 69 tenders raised by twelve government entities in Abu Dhabi by the end of May 2015. The tenders amounted to a value of over AED 27 billion.

The 69 tenders include capital and operational project tenders worth more than AED 100 million from the following organisations: Abu Dhabi General Services "Musanada", Al Ain City Municipality, Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC), Tadweer Waste Management, Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company, the Department of Transport - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi City Municipality, Al Ain Distribution Company, Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company, Abu Dhabi Urban planning Council, Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation.

HE Salah Mohamed Al Weswasi, Executive Director of Financial Policies and Systems Sector at DoF - Abu Dhabi, stressed DoF's commitment to implement the directives of Abu Dhabi government, support the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision and adopt best corporate governance practices through the development of an open, efficient and effective business environment. HE said: "By developing the bidding hall's operations, we are striving to enhance coordination between all government entities, to attract more foreign investment and strengthen the competitiveness of the Emirate's economy."

The establishment of the "Al Maqta'a bidding hall" reflects the Government of Abu Dhabi's aim to implement the best corporate governance practices within the field of government tenders, as well as achieve greater transparency, enhance economic competitiveness, attract more foreign investments, and strengthen ties between various government agencies in Abu Dhabi.   

The bidding hall's operations are based on five obligatory and consecutive stages to all concerned entities, including:

First phase: tender preparation and announcement.

Second phase: receiving the technical and financial proposal for the bids from suppliers and contractors within the deadline. The bidding hall's team then separate the technical and financial proposals.

Third phase: the opening of technical proposals under the management of the assigned supervisory committee and in the presence of other government bodies.

Fourth phase: reviewing the technical proposals and shortlisting the best entries. The government entity, in cooperation with the bidding hall management team, will also set the deadline for opening financial proposals.

Fifth phase: Financial tenders are opened under the management of the assigned supervisory committee. The shortlisted suppliers or contractors will also be present and prices of competitive tenders will be announced, to enhance transparency.

After obtaining approval from the supervisory committee, the tender process is completed by transporting the tender bids to the respective tendering government entity.

Suppliers and contractors can also submit their bids electronically, by uploading their proposals to designated webpages within a specified timeframe. The secretary of the assigned supervisory committee handles the opening of all electronic presentations. All approvals are recorded by video and cell phones are prohibited in the hall, to ensure transparency during the tender process.

The bidding hall is equipped with the latest systems and advanced technologies in order to manage logistics related to processing bids, including supervisory procedures, supporting committees of government entities, the opening of technical and financial bids, the announcement of the tender process and the prices offered in public hearings.

Al Maqta'a bidding hall offers a range of logistics services related to capital and operational tender projects worth over AED 100 billion.

-Ends-

For more information:
Mary Khamasmieh 
Weber Shandwick
Phone:  +971 50 2731753
Fax: + 971 2 449 4833                               
Email: mkhamasmieh@webershandwick.com

© Press Release 2015