Hungary to start e-Procurement from 2010

The Hungarian government has announced its intention to amend the current Act on Public Procurement and pave way for the introduction of an electronic public procurement (EPP) system by 2010.

The ultimate objective is make public procurement simpler, faster and more transparent reports Epractice, adding that with the new solution, Hungary is looking at setting new, higher limits for the value of tenders requiring public procurement procedures.

It is also looking at cutting down the tender processing time, thereby shortening the deadlines for the publication of winner.

According to government plans, eProcurement would be introduced in two phases—between July 2009 and July 2010.

The new system would cover the electronic publication of calls for tenders, as also other aspects of the public procurement procedures, including the announcement of winner and appeal procedures.

A feasibility study is being carried out to review similar services in other countries—UK, Denmark, Italy, Romania—and in the private sector in Hungary, the report said.

The result of the study will be used to define the parameters of the new service better.

At present, the Hungarian government favours a liberal approach in which market players can compete with one another to support the new governmental EPP processes.

Once specifications for the system requirements of the new EPP system have been finalised, a call will be launched, the report said.