Article 29 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
المادة 29 من نظام المنافسات والمشتريات الحكومية · الفصل الأول: المنافسة العامة
The article requires a public tender to be announced on the portal as the Implementing Regulations explain, and refers to the Regulations the means of announcement if that is not possible for technical reasons.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
1- يتم الإعلان عن المنافسة العامة في البوابة، وفقاً لما توضحه اللائحة.
2- تحدد اللائحة وسيلة الإعلان عن المنافسة العامة إذا تعذر الإعلان عنها في البوابة لأسباب فنية.
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 29 explained in plain English
This article governs announcing a public tender in two paragraphs:
1. Announcement on the portal: A public tender is announced on the portal, which is the unified electronic portal for government procurement supervised by the Ministry under Article 1. This is as the Implementing Regulations explain; the article does not state the announcement's period or content.
2. The alternative when not possible: If announcing on the portal is not possible for technical reasons, the Implementing Regulations set the alternative means of announcement. The article does not mention this means.
The practical benefit: The portal is the main place to learn of the public tenders put out, and anyone who wishes to take part follows them.
Relation to other articles:
- Article 28 provides that all works and procurement are put out in a public tender except what the Law excepts, so announcing on the portal is a basic step in this putting out.
- Article 30 allows contracting by limited tender in specified cases, including those whose estimated value does not exceed SAR 500,000 by inviting at least five competitors.
So it is clear that this article is specific to the public tender, and that the details of the announcement are in the Implementing Regulations.
Practical example
A supply firm in Al-Ahsa wants to learn of new public tenders to supply food to government entities. This article provides that a public tender is announced on the portal, so the firm follows them there, and if announcing on it is not possible for technical reasons, the Implementing Regulations set the alternative means.
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 29 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
Where are public government tenders announced?
On the unified electronic portal for government procurement, as the Implementing Regulations explain.
What if the portal is down?
If announcing on the portal is not possible for technical reasons, the Implementing Regulations set the alternative means of announcement.
Does the article set the announcement period?
No. The article refers the details of the announcement to the Implementing Regulations.
More articles on Public and Limited Tenders
- Article 6
The article subjects public tenders to three principles: openness, transparency and equal opportunity.
تخضع المنافسة العامة لمبادئ العلانية والشفافية وتكافؤ الفرص.
- Article 26
The article bars splitting works and procurement in order to bring them within the authority for direct purchase, limited tenders or the authority of delegated officials.
لا تجوز تجزئة الأعمال والمشتريات من أجل الوصول بها إلى صلاحية الشراء المباشر أو المنافسة المحدودة أو صلاحيات المسؤولين المفوَضين.
- Article 28
The article makes the public tender the standard method for putting out all government works and procurement, except what is excepted under the Law's provisions.
تطرح جميع الأعمال والمشتريات في منافسة عامة عدا ما يستثنى منها بموجب أحكام النظام.
- Article 30
The article allows the government entity to contract by limited tender in five cases, including those not exceeding SAR 500,000 in estimated value, urgent cases and consulting services.
للجهة الحكومية التعاقد بأسلوب المنافسة المحدودة في الحالات الآتية: 1- إذا كانت الأعمال والمشتريات لا تتوافر إلا لدى عدد محدود من المقاولين أو الموردين أو المتعه
- Article 31
The article allows the government entity to put out a tender in two stages if the final technical specifications and contractual conditions cannot be fully and precisely determined because of the works' complex and specialized nature.
للجهة الحكومية طرح المنافسة على مرحلتين إذا تعذر تحديد المواصفات الفنية والشروط التعاقدية النهائية تحديداً كاملاً ودقيقاً؛ بسبب الطبيعة المعقدة والتخصصية لبعض ا
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.