Article 32 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law

This article allows the government entity to contract by direct purchase in six specified cases:

1. Weapons, military equipment and their spare parts, which are bought through the General Authority for Military Industries.
2. That the works or procurement are available exclusively from one provider, contractor or supplier with no acceptable alternative, with contracting done as the Implementing Regulations specify.
3. That the estimated cost does not exceed SAR 100,000, with priority in directing the invitation going to local small and medium enterprises.
4. That direct purchase is necessary to protect national security interests and a public or limited tender cannot be used with it, in which case the entity must, after concluding the contract, prepare a report of the reasons and give the General Court of Audit a copy of it.
5. That the works or procurement are available from one non-profit institution, association or entity, on condition that it carries out the work itself.
6. Emergency cases, which under the definition in Article 1 are cases involving a serious and unexpected threat to public safety, security or health, or a disruption threatening loss of life or property, that cannot be dealt with through ordinary competition procedures.

The article refers to the Implementing Regulations the setting of the controls and procedures for applying these cases, without prejudice to the jurisdiction of the General Authority for Military Industries in the first case.

This method differs from the two-stage tender in Article 31 and from the framework agreement in Article 33. Anyone who deals with a government entity by direct purchase and needs to assess his position is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative disputes and government contracts.