Understanding Nepal’s Government Tender and Procurement SystemThe Government of Nepal purchases many goods, services, and works every year through a system called public procurement. This system is open to the public and is used by government offices, ministries, local governments, and public institutions. 🔍 What is Public Procurement? Public procurement means the process by which the government buys:

• Construction services (roads, buildings, etc.)
• Goods (office supplies, furniture, equipment)
• Services (consulting, training, IT support, etc.)

The goal is to ensure transparency, fair competition, and value for money. 📄 Where Are Tenders Published? In Nepal, government tenders are published on:

• e-GP Portal: https://www.bolpatra.gov.np/egp
• Official websites of government offices
• National daily newspapers

The Bolpatra e-GP System is the main platform where you can:

• View open tenders
• Register as a supplier or contractor
• Submit your bid electronically

🧾 Steps to Participate in a Tender:

1. Register in the e-GP System
   • Create an account as a firm or individual
   • Upload necessary documents like PAN/VAT, business registration, etc.
2. Search for relevant tenders
   • Use keywords like construction, IT services, office supplies, etc.
3. Prepare a Bid
   • Technical Proposal: Your capacity, experience, and methodology
   • Financial Proposal: Your price offer
4. Pay the Bid Fee
   • Often required to pay a non-refundable fee via bank
5. Submit the Bid Before Deadline
   • Late submissions are not accepted

🧐 Tender Evaluation Process After the bid submission deadline, the government forms a Tender Evaluation Committee to review all submitted bids carefully. This is a very important step because the contract is awarded based on this evaluation. Evaluation is usually done in two main stages:

1. 1. Technical Evaluation The committee checks whether your bid meets all technical requirements set in the tender document. They verify your documents such as experience certificates, licenses, qualifications, and compliance with specifications. Bids that fail technical criteria are rejected without considering the price.

Based on the Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO) guidelines, underpinned by the Public Procurement Act, 2063 (2007) and Public Procurement Regulations, 2064 (2007), it is strictly unethical and unacceptable for a person who prepared and signed the specifications to participate in the evaluation process and assign marks to technical proposals. This practice directly violates the core principles of impartiality, transparency, and avoidance of conflict of interest mandated by PPMO. The Code of Conduct for procurement officials and PPMO’s operational directives explicitly require evaluators to be independent and free from any influence that could compromise objectivity. Allowing such a person to evaluate bids creates a clear conflict of interest, as their prior role in shaping the specifications could bias their scoring, intentionally or otherwise, and undermines public trust in the procurement process. Even in cases of staffing constraints, PPMO guidelines do not permit this overlap without robust safeguards, and best practices dictate complete exclusion from the evaluation committee. Failure to adhere to this standard risks’ legal challenges, audit irregularities, and reputational damage. Public entities must exclude such individuals from assigning marks and ensure evaluation committees are composed of independent members to comply with PPMO’s ethical and legal requirements. For further clarification, refer to www.ppmo.gov.np or consult PPMO directly.

1. Financial Evaluation Only bids that pass technical evaluation are reviewed for price. The committee compares the prices of all technically qualified bids. The contract is usually awarded to the lowest priced, technically qualified bidder, unless the tender states otherwise.

📌 Tips for Success:

• Follow all technical instructions carefully to pass the first stage.
• Submit clear, complete, and accurate documents.
• Make sure your pricing is competitive but realistic.
• Understand the evaluation criteria provided in the tender document.

⚖️ Why Is This System Important?

• Fair chance for everyone — small or big businesses
• Transparency in how the government spends money
• Encourages quality by selecting the best offer

🚧 Common Challenges:

• Complex paperwork
• Technical knowledge required
• High competition
• Risk of disqualification due to small mistakes

Solution: Get familiar with the system or take help from someone experienced.