Description
The state spends its every fifth euro (5 billion yearly) through procurement. Yet, 75% surveyed Slovaks believe that public tenders are tarnished by corruption. Businesses say that bribes represent13% of the contract values.The objective of the project is to make public procurement as transparent as possible without tying the hands of procuring institutions. Project expects to: 1. bring the public easily comprehensible and accessible information about public procurement on (old or new) websites about procurement. 2. analyse and assess public procurement policies and advise law and policy-makers how to apprehend this topic in future. Include data-based decision making in this process 3. uncover scandals in public procurement and pressure state bodies to investigate them Beneficients should include: 1. NGOs, journalists and others interested in open data and information about public procurement; 2. Public whose money we aim to save by revealing scandals and overpriced contracts. The project seeks to reduce corruption by monitoring of the largest tenders, researching recent legislative changes and involving public in the monitoring of civil servants. The large-scale investments announced by the government deserve our attention. In cooperation with domain experts, we will closely follow fairness and process of the tenders. We will compare procurement calls and final prices of the same wares among institutions. We will analyze impacts of recent legislative changes, efficiency of the state oversight, disqualifications of bidders and granting of exemptions. We will improve procurement data quality; prepare a website for civil servants with templates for the most common tenders. Finally, we will train both groups on effective procurement and monitoring.
Summary of project results
Public procurement in Slovakia often ends up in big scandals from inefficiency to connection with political parties. According surveys 3 from 4 Slovak citizens allege that public procurement is connected to corruption and according the PAS 2012 survey 13% from state tenders goes to bribes. So the aim of the project was to decrease corruption and to increase public procurement efficiency through the enhancement of competition and participation of firms in public procurement as well as through higher efficiency of state´s purchase. Not only thanks to reforms made by state, but also thanks to the public pressure based on the project Monitoring of Public Procurement has increased the number of firms participating per a tender from 2,8 contestants to 3,6 contestants. Historically, it is the highest competitiveness in public procurement. The permanent sustainability of the outcomes of the project is secured by publication of studies, analyses, datas and procurement sample documents. Public as well as anyone who would carry out project about public procurement may use results of the project Monitoring of Public Procurement. Within the scope of the project Transparency International Slovakia (TIS) has called attention to a problem of shell companies and as the first one has uncovered „shell background“ of an important state supplier Váhostav, as well as ice-hockey club HC Slovan. TIS has also alerted dubious tender in the National Library in Martin, which has been subsequently cancelled. An asset of the project was also expert commenting of the public procurement problems- TIS has become the most quoted Slovak NGO in a field of public procurement. During the project TIS has published 26 studies, analyses and tender monitorings with average readability 13 thousands read-outs. These outputs focus on public in general, journalists, activists and clerks.
Summary of bilateral results