On January 14 of this year, the President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Luis Arce Catacora signed Supreme Decree N° 4453 regulating Electronic Auctions, the Virtual Government Market, and the Regulations for Electronically Supported Contracting. Within the framework of transparency and the fight against corruption in public contracting, the decree aims to encourage participation of potential bidders in the contracting of goods and services.
Government Virtual Market
A virtual market is established as a computer platform to promote, disseminate and advertise goods and services offered by potential suppliers registered in the Unified Registry of Government Suppliers (RUPE).
The virtual market is available for all suppliers to register their products until May 3; once the deadline expires, public entities may access the Virtual Market platform to obtain quotes for the products offered.
Electronic means in public procurement
Within the state contracting process, the application of electronic means in the different stages is made possible; however, the presentation of physical means in proposals for national projects is not limited. The process includes the following activities:
a) Activities Prior to the Presentation of Proposals:
- Written Consultations;
- Clarification Meeting; and
- Informative Clarification Meeting.
b) Presentation and Opening of Tender Proposals;
c) Evaluation of Proposals;
d) Proposal Clarification Meeting;
e) Agreement on Best Conditions;
f) Electronic Auction
Electronic Auction
This procedure, through the platform of the Government Contracting System (SICOES) using electronic means, seeks to ensure real time effectiveness of the interaction between public agencies contracting for projects and bidders, via submission of increasingly lower economic offers, in a process whose outcome will be automatic.
The Electronically Supported Procurement Regulations establish that Electronic Auctions will involve a "public call" published in SICOES and will be part of the contracting process when they meet the following conditions:
- They are for the purchase of goods (products);
- They involve a contracting process in a call for bids for a value greater than Bs. 50,000:
- They are qualified under the Price Selection and Award method;
Proposal Evaluation System
| Digital Signature Validation | Economic Evaluation |
| The regulations enable potential bidders to submit documents with digital signature. The digital signature will be verified by officials of the contracting entity to confirm validity. However, the use of the digital signature is not is not mandatory; hence, bidders may submit scanned signatures. | As a result of registration of unit or lot prices and/or registration of preference margins when applicable, the system will generate a report of prices offered and adjusted, which will show, in descending order, the economic proposals submitted electronically. Depending on the conditions for the submission of proposals established and according to the purpose of the contract, the data entries made in the economic proposals system will be checked against the scanned documents and if there is a difference in the information, the scanned proposal will prevail. |
Operation of the Electronic Auction
| Time |
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| Bidders’ Identity |
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| Traffic Light
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Main Benefits of the Electronic Auction
a) Facilitates the participation of suppliers nationwide.
b) Encourages greater participation in the government’s calls for bids.
c) Simplifies the submission of proposals by digital means.
d) Optimizes resources in contracting processes.
e) Improves custody and preservation of information in proposals submitted.
f) Increases transparency and control in contracting processes, avoiding corruption.