Article 16 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
المادة 16 من نظام المنافسات والمشتريات الحكومية · الفصل السابع: البوابة
The article requires government tender and procurement procedures to be put out through the electronic portal, unless that is not possible for technical or security reasons, as the Implementing Regulations explain.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تطرح إجراءات المنافسات والمشتريات الحكومية من خلال البوابة -ما لم يتعذر ذلك لأسباب فنية أو لأسباب تتعلق بالأمن الوطني- وفقاً لما توضحه اللائحة.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 16 explained in plain English
This article makes the electronic portal the rule for putting out government tender and procurement procedures.
The rule: Government tender and procurement procedures are put out through the portal, which under Article 1 is the unified electronic portal for government procurement supervised by the Ministry.
The exception: Putting out through the portal may be skipped in only two cases the article mentions:
- If that is not possible for technical reasons.
- If that is not possible for reasons relating to national security.
Details: The article refers to the Implementing Regulations to explain how to put things out through the portal, so the article itself does not set out the steps for putting out or the alternative when it is not possible.
How does it relate to the other articles?
- Article 17 provides that the portal must have the highest degrees of privacy, confidentiality, security and information transparency, and must allow interested parties to view the information the Implementing Regulations specify.
- Article 15 provides that entities must buy through framework agreements what is in the lists of the unified procurement entity.
So a contractor or supplier knows that the portal is the natural place to follow tenders and take part in them.
Practical example
A medical equipment supplier in Riyadh wants to take part in a government ministry's tenders. Under this article, tender procedures are put out through the portal, so he follows them there, unless a particular tender is put out outside it because of a technical impossibility or reasons relating to national security.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 16 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
Must government tenders be put out through the electronic portal?
Yes. The rule is that government tender and procurement procedures are put out through the portal, as the Implementing Regulations explain.
When may a tender be put out outside the portal?
If putting it out through the portal is not possible for technical reasons or for reasons relating to national security.
Who supervises the portal?
Under Article 1, the portal is supervised by the Ministry (the Ministry of Finance).
More articles on General Provisions and Principles of Government Tenders
- Article 1
The article defines the key terms used in the Government Tenders and Procurement Law, such as government entities, the portal, the framework agreement, qualification, the standstill period, and emergency and urgent cases.
يقصد بالعبارات والمصطلحات الآتية -أينما وردت في هذا النظام- المعاني الموضحة أمام كل منها، ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك: النظام: نظام المنافسات والمشتريات الحكومية
- Article 2
The article sets out the Law's objectives: regulating procedures for works and procurement and preventing abuse of influence, achieving the best value for public funds, and promoting integrity, equality, transparency and economic development.
يهدف النظام إلى الآتي: 1- تنظيم الإجراءات ذات الصلة بالأعمال والمشتريات، ومنع استغلال النفوذ وتأثير المصالح الشخصية فيها؛ وذلك حماية للمال العام. 2- تحقيق أفضل
- Article 3
The article requires government entities to deal only with licensed persons, and, when dealing with foreigners inside the Kingdom, to first confirm that there is not more than one qualified local person.
1- تتعامل الجهات الحكومية عند تنفيذ أعمالها وتأمين مشترياتها مع الأشخاص المرخص لهم بذلك، طبقاً للأنظمة والقواعد المتبعة. 2- على الجهة الحكومية عند تعاملها مع أش
- Article 4
The article provides that everyone who meets the conditions for dealing with a government entity is given equal opportunities and treated on an equal footing with others.
يعطى جميع الأشخاص الراغبين في التعامل مع الجهة الحكومية، ممن تتوافر فيهم الشروط التي تؤهلهم لهذا التعامل؛ فرصاً متساوية ويعاملون على قدم المساواة.
- Article 5
The article requires clear, unified information about the required works and procurement to be provided to competitors, and requires that they be able to obtain it at a set time.
تُوفَر للمتنافسين معلومات واضحة وموحدة عن الأعمال والمشتريات المطلوبة، ويمكَنون من الحصول عليها في وقت محدد.
- Article 6
The article subjects public tenders to three principles: openness, transparency and equal opportunity.
تخضع المنافسة العامة لمبادئ العلانية والشفافية وتكافؤ الفرص.
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.