Article 22 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
المادة 22 من نظام المنافسات والمشتريات الحكومية · الفصل العاشر: الشروط والمواصفات
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يجب أن تكون الشروط والمواصفات الفنية للأعمال والمشتريات المطروحة تفصيلية ودقيقة وواضحة، وأن تراعي المواصفات القياسية المعتمدة أو المواصفات العالمية فيما ليس له مواصفات وطنية معتمدة، وألا تتضمن الإشارة إلى نوع أو صنف معين، أو تحديد علامة تجارية أو اسم تجاري بعينه، أو وضع مواصفات لا تنطبق إلا على مقاولين أو منتجين أو موردين بعينهم.
2- استثناء من حكم الفقرة (1) من هذه المادة، يجوز الإشارة إلى علامة تجارية أو اسم تجاري بعينه في الحالات التي يتعذر فيها وصف وتحديد المواصفات الفنية بشكل دقيق، بشرط الحصول على موافقة مسبقة من الجهة المختصة بالشراء الموحد وأن تتضمن وثائق المنافسة عبارة "وما يعادلها".
3- على الجهة الحكومية عدم المبالغة في المواصفات الفنية، وألا تتجاوز حاجات ومتطلبات المشروع والاعتمادات المالية المخصصة له.
4- للجهة الحكومية الاستعانة بمن ترى الاستئناس برأيهم من ذوي الخبرة والاختصاص عند وضع المواصفات الفنية.
5- على الجهة الحكومية -عند وضع المواصفات الفنية- أن تأخذ في الحسبان متطلبات الأشخاص ذوي الإعاقة واحتياجاتهم.
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 22 explained in plain English
This article sets the controls on technical conditions and specifications in five paragraphs:
1. The general rule: Conditions and specifications must be detailed, precise and clear, and must take into account the approved standard specifications, or international specifications for what has no approved national specifications. The following are prohibited in them:
- Referring to a particular type or kind.
- Specifying a particular trademark or trade name.
- Setting specifications that apply only to particular contractors, producers or suppliers.
2. The exception: A particular trademark or trade name may be referred to if the specifications cannot be described precisely, on two conditions: prior approval from the unified procurement entity, and that the tender documents include the phrase "or equivalent".
3. No exaggeration: The entity must not exaggerate the specifications or exceed the project's needs and requirements and the financial appropriations set aside for it.
4. Using experts: The entity may use people with experience and expertise when setting the specifications.
5. Persons with disabilities: The entity must take into account the requirements and needs of persons with disabilities when setting the specifications.
With these controls, a tender is not tailored to a particular supplier. They complement Article 21 on tender documents, and Article 23, which requires studying market prices before setting the estimated cost.
Practical example
A government entity in Riyadh wants to buy printers and wrote in the specifications the name of a particular manufacturing company. This is prohibited under paragraph 1, unless the specifications could not be described precisely, the entity obtained the prior approval of the unified procurement entity, and it added the phrase "or equivalent" in the tender documents.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
How we write and review contentA question about Article 22 of Government Tenders and Procurement Law?
Describe what happened and specialist lawyers answer. You can write in English.
- Completely free
- Lawyers from the directory answer
- Your name stays hidden
Administrative Law lawyers: ask a specialist about your case
Describe your situation briefly and we'll suggest a lawyer who specialises in this law
Administrative Law (Board of Grievances) lawyers
Lawyers who handle this kind of case
Dr. Ali Al-Rubaie Law Office and Ittihad Al-Asr Legal Company
Active contributor
Unwan Law Firm
Frequently asked questions about Article 22 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
May a particular brand be named in a government tender?
The rule is that it may not. As an exception it is allowed if the specifications cannot be described precisely, on condition of prior approval from the unified procurement entity and including the phrase "or equivalent" in the documents.
May specifications be set that apply to only one supplier?
No. The article bars setting specifications that apply only to particular contractors, producers or suppliers.
Which specifications are used if there are no national specifications?
International specifications are taken into account for what has no approved national specifications.
Must persons with disabilities be taken into account in the specifications?
Yes. The government entity must take into account the requirements and needs of persons with disabilities when setting the technical specifications.
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 21
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.
1- يجب أن تتضمن وثائق المنافسات المعلومات والبيانات الخاصة بالأعمال والمشتريات المطروحة وفقاً لما تحدده اللائحة. 2- يجب توفير نسخ إلكترونية لوثائق المنافسة في ا
- 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.