Transparency boost as e-bidding introduced

On February 4 2013, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and seven other ministries jointly promulgated the Measures for the Electronic Invitation for and Submission of Bids (国家发展和改革委员会等八部门电子招标投标办法), effective as of May 1 2013. The Measures are based on the PRC Law on the Invitation for and Submission of Bids (中华人民共和国招标投标法) (Bidding Law) and the Implementing Regulations for the PRC Law on the Invitation for and Submission of Bids, (中华人民共和国招标投标法实施条例) (Implementing Regulations). The Measures further develop the public tender system established under these two pieces of legislation. The Measures are divided into nine chapters, followed by extensive technical appendices and define “electronic bid invitation and submission activities” as “bid invitation and submission transactions, public service and administrative supervision activities wholly or partially completed in the form of data messages through an electronic bid invitation and submission system”(Article 2).

Pursuant to the Bidding Law and the Implementing Regulations, the following major construction projects, including surveying and prospecting, design, engineering and supervision, procurement of major equipment and materials, must be put out for tender: