The evolution of tendering and public procurement processes in Malta : a project managers’ perspective

Abstract

The objective of this work is to describe how the local Tendering and Public Procurement processes have evolved. The study assesses the current scenario comparingly with previous years, evaluating the main changes, improvements, and non-improvements. The main aim of this study is to highlight public procurement realities through practical practices. As a general principle, public procurement processes should be viewed as always being transparent and devoid of any questionable situations. Research shows that the general public does not always experience this viewpoint. Local government should aim to ensure that the Public Procurement and Tendering Processes provide (as far as possible) a level playing field for all participants, whether they are people, large or small business companies. Public procurement systems should aim to produce and also be perceived to deliver the best possible use of public funding. Authorities should make sure that all of capital is used prudently, methodically, and transparently, eliminating any possibility that the procurement processes were tainted by fraud or other unethical behavior. The research makes use of secondary data and semi-structured interviews and results show that public procurement is heavily influenced not only by the legislation in effect at the moment, which is subject to change, but also by the level of prepared tender papers, referred to as tender packages. The intent is that these documents should describe what is expected, how it is required, when it is required, and at what cost. Such documentation can be summarized as (i) Form of Tender, (ii) General Conditions, (iii) Specific Conditions, (iv) Bills of Quantities, (v) Specifications, and (vi) Drawings, all of which should be included in the tender package, particularly when such tenders are of an Engineering or technical nature. Something which the research study identified as lacking in practitioner practice. In conclusion, there is a fair amount of legal obligation as well as a fair portion of technical responsibility in this field, both of which can guide or misguide a fair tendering and public procurement exercise.