B. Amgalan: The procurement of public tenders is much improved

Local news, 15.12.2014

“It was different before we had the open public-procurement system,” said Mrs B. Amgalan, Director of Undrakh Buteemj Co. Ltd, a company that has completed a full renovation of School No. 1 in Uvs aimag. “There were many issues that were critical in regard to past procurement practices. Now we are better informed by the Public Procurement Office on the tender opportunities in our aimag.”

Children at the newly renovated School No. 1 in Ulaangom soum, Uvs aimag, are happy to return to a refurbished school

Undrakh Buteemj Co. Ltd was founded in the mid-1990s after the aimag’s only state-owned construction entity collapsed. At present, the company employs more than 40 workers, including experienced and skilled workers from the previous state-owned entity. 

Mrs Amgalan was also happy about the recently established website of the aimag’s Procurement Office (www.uvstender.mn), which publishes information required by bidders in public tenders. “I believe we submitted the most realistic budget for the renovation of the school based on current market prices. Our budget was MNT 50 million less than the initial amount of the tender. This means we saved more than MNT 50 million from the aimag’s budget. Yet we delivered quality work,” she said. 

According to the 2013 annual report, Uvs aimag’s contracting costs decreased by MNT 0.7 billion from a budget of MNT 11 billion. During the same period, the quality of procurement results and on-time project completion improved. 

The current procurement practices now include community monitors from local civil society organisations (CSOs). 

“I’m sure that the tendering committee that included monitors and observers from local civil society organisations have seen our company’s capacity and the traceable history of our previous work, and evaluated us as capable to take on the renovation.” 

“It is very good that CSOs are involved in the tender selection processes. They help make fair and realistic evaluations of the bidders. I see that it’s necessary to increase the number of CSOs in these processes. More importantly, I believe it’s necessary to involve the local media, which will inform the public about the procurement processes.” 

Undrakh Buteemj Co. Ltd’s work at School No. 1 included restoration of the roof and floors, replacing doors and windows, and completing all interiors of the school building. “We are quite satisfied with the quality of the work done in our school renovation,” said School No. 1 principal Mrs N. Buren. 

Uvs aimag is making a difference in public tendering by initiating open, competitive and participatory tendering processes. “Public procurement processes have much improved in recent years,” Mrs Amgalan said.