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.

Press release, 16.06.2014

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 16 June 2014 -The SDC funded Eco-schools Project, implemented by the Mongolian Nature and Environment Consortium (MNEC), was awarded the prestigious “Energy Globe” environmental award from Austria’s Energy Globe Foundation on May 24.

Mr M. Badarch and Mrs L. Shinetsetseg received Energy Globe 2014 Award
Mr M. Badarch and Mrs L. Shinetsetseg received Energy Globe 2014 Award

In attendance at the Ulaanbaatar awards ceremony were high-ranking Austrian and Mongolian dignatories, including the Vice-President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Richard Schenz; Austrian Ambassador to Mongolia residing in Beijing, Irene Giner-Reichl; and the Mongolian Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ts. Oyungerel.

Mr Schenz presented the award to MNEC director M. Badarch and L.Shinetsetseg, Project Officer at MNEC.

“It is a great recognition of our efforts to create greener schools and communities in Mongolia, working with children,” M. Badarch said. “We take great pride in being awarded the Energy Globe – the most prestigious environmental prize worldwide – and in being chosen from more than 160 participating countries and 1000 project submissions annually.

The award is given each year to projects that conserve such resources as energy or which utilise renewable or emission-free forms of energy. The aim of the Energy Globe is to raise public awareness about sustainable environmental solutions and to motivate people to become active in this sphere.

Mongolia’s Eco-schools Development Project was selected on the basis of its success in mobilising 166 schools and in teaching young children about the importance of environmental issues and possible solutions to the challenges being faced. The project aims to improve the environmental education and knowledge of youth, and develop a national network focused on creating a better and healthier living environment.

“We are living in a world that requires new thinking about the responsible use of our natural resources. However, change will only happen if awareness about current issues and alternative solutions is raised with as many people as possible” said the the Energy Globe Foundation on its web regarding the work of the Eco school project.

“This is especially true for our young generation, who are the decision-makers of tomorrow. This year’s National Winner of the Energy Globe Award in Mongolia is paving the road to creating greener communities in Mongolia. Congratulations on this initiative.”

SDC has been supporting this movement of eco-schools since 2007.

Project highlights

  • 166 eco-schools in 18 aimags (18.3 percent of all secondary schools)
  • Dust reduction: 23 eco-schools could reduce dust sediments by 50 percent by greening the area
  • Energy saving initiative by an eco-school in Bayankhongor aimag: Replacing red bulbs with fluorescent ones and by installing electric meter in carpenter classes saved MNT 5.6 million on electricity cost.
  • Water saving initiative in Bayankhongor aimag’s Nomgon school: repairing water sink and plumber pipes saved MNT 3 million.
  • ‘Family Garden’ initiative involved 340 families who have planted more than 4500 seedlings in their gardens.