Article 21 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
المادة 21 من نظام المنافسات والمشتريات الحكومية · الفصل التاسع: وثائق المنافسة
The article requires tender documents to contain the works and procurement information as the Implementing Regulations specify, to be available electronically on the portal or on paper if technically impossible, and refers cost criteria to the Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يجب أن تتضمن وثائق المنافسات المعلومات والبيانات الخاصة بالأعمال والمشتريات المطروحة وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة.
2- يجب توفير نسخ إلكترونية لوثائق المنافسة في البوابة. وفي حال تعذر ذلك لأسباب فنية، فتوفر نسخ ورقية كافية.
3- تحدد اللائحة معايير تحديد تكاليف وثائق المنافسة.
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 21 explained in plain English
This article governs tender documents in three paragraphs:
1. Content of the documents: Tender documents must contain the information and data on the works and procurement put out, as the Implementing Regulations specify. The article does not itself list these data.
2. Availability:
- The rule: electronic copies of the tender documents are provided on the portal.
- The exception: if that is not possible for technical reasons, sufficient paper copies are provided.
3. Costs: The Implementing Regulations set the criteria for determining the costs of tender documents. The article does not set the price of the documents, but leaves it to the Implementing Regulations to set the criteria by which it is determined.
Relation to other articles:
- Article 22 requires the conditions and technical specifications to be detailed, precise and clear, without referring to a particular trademark except in exceptional cases on conditions.
- Article 20 controls the qualification criteria so they are objective and measurable.
The portal means the unified electronic portal for government procurement under Article 1. So a competitor knows that the documents are made available in the first place through the portal, and that the details of their content and cost are in the Implementing Regulations.
Practical example
A company in Mecca wants to take part in a tender to supply laboratory equipment, and looked for the tender documents on the portal but could not find them because of an ongoing technical fault. Under paragraph 2, if electronic copies cannot be provided for technical reasons, the entity must provide sufficient paper copies.
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 21 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
Where do I find government tender documents?
Electronic copies of them must be provided on the portal, and if that is not possible for technical reasons, sufficient paper copies are provided.
How much do tender documents cost?
The article does not set a price; it provides that the Implementing Regulations set the criteria for determining the costs of tender documents.
What do tender documents contain?
The information and data on the works and procurement put out, as the Implementing Regulations specify.
More articles on Tender Documents and Specifications
- 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 8
The article requires works and procurement to be put out and contracted within the government entity's actual needs, and at fair prices not exceeding prevailing market prices.
يكون طرح الأعمال والمشتريات والتعاقد في حدود الاحتياجات الفعلية للجهة الحكومية، وبأسعار عادلة لا تزيد عن الأسعار السائدة في السوق.
- Article 22
The article requires technical specifications to be detailed and precise, and bars reference to a particular brand or supplier except by a conditional exception, with no exaggeration and with persons with disabilities taken into account.
1- يجب أن تكون الشروط والمواصفات الفنية للأعمال والمشتريات المطروحة تفصيلية ودقيقة وواضحة، وأن تراعي المواصفات القياسية المعتمدة أو المواصفات العالمية فيما ليس
- Article 23
The article requires the government entity, before setting the estimated cost, to study market prices carefully and set an upper limit for the expected contract value, and to put in place controls to keep the cost confidential.
على الجهة الحكومية -قبل وضع التكلفة التقديرية للأعمال والمشتريات- القيام بالآتي: 1- دراسة أسعار السوق بشكل دقيق، وأن تراعي في ذلك تحديد حد أعلى للقيمة الإجمالية
- Article 24
The article requires the government entity to set in the tender documents the criteria for evaluating, comparing and accepting bids, as the Implementing Regulations explain.
تحدد الجهة الحكومية في وثائق المنافسة معايير تقييم ومقارنة وقبول العروض وفقاً لما توضحه اللائحة.
- Article 25
The article requires non-price evaluation criteria to be objective, proportionate to the nature of the works and procurement, and quantifiable as far as practically possible.
يجب أن تكون معايير التقييم غير السعرية موضوعية وتتناسب مع طبيعة الأعمال والمشتريات المراد طرحها، وأن تكون -بالقدر الممكن عملياً- قابلة للتحديد الكمي.
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.