Article 33 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
المادة 33 من نظام المنافسات والمشتريات الحكومية · الفصل الخامس: الاتفاقية الإطارية
The article allows the government entity to conclude a framework agreement with the winner of the tender if quantities, the volume of works or services, or the time of execution cannot be determined.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للجهة الحكومية إبرام اتفاقية إطارية مع من رست عليه المنافسة تتضمن الأحكام التي سيجري في إطارها تنفيذ العقد، وذلك في الحالات التي يتعذر فيها تحديد كميات الأصناف أو حجم الأعمال أو الخدمات المتعاقد عليها أو موعد تنفيذها، 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 33 explained in plain English
This article governs the framework agreement, which under the definition in Article 1 is an agreement between one or more government entities and one or more suppliers, contractors or providers, containing the terms and provisions of contracts to be awarded during a given period.
Under this article, the government entity may conclude this agreement with the winner of the tender, setting in it the provisions under which the contract will be carried out. This is in cases where it is not possible to determine one of the following in advance:
- The quantities of items required.
- The volume of works or services contracted for.
- The time of their execution.
The practical idea is that some needs recur but cannot be estimated precisely, such as materials requested as needed over a given period; instead of putting out a separate tender for each order, the terms are set once and execution then takes place within them.
Note that the agreement is concluded with the winner of the tender, which means it does not replace the procedures of putting out and award. The article refers the details of concluding it, its duration and how orders are issued under it to the Implementing Regulations.
This is a method independent of direct purchase in Article 32 and of the electronic reverse auction in Article 34. Anyone who wants to understand his obligations under a framework agreement with a government entity is advised to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative disputes and government contracts.
Practical example
A government entity in Dammam needs printer ink throughout the year, but does not know the exact quantity or the ordering dates. It put out a tender, which was awarded to a supply company, then concluded a framework agreement with it setting the terms and provisions, and orders quantities as needed within it as the Implementing Regulations explain.
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 33 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
What is a framework agreement?
An agreement between one or more government entities and one or more suppliers, contractors or providers, containing the terms and provisions of contracts to be awarded during a given period.
When may a government entity conclude a framework agreement?
When it is not possible to determine the quantities of items, the volume of works or services contracted for, or the time of their execution.
Is a framework agreement concluded without a tender?
No. The article provides that it is concluded with the winner of the tender, and refers the details to the Implementing Regulations.
More articles on Framework Agreements and Reverse Auctions
- Article 14
The article sets the powers of the unified procurement entity, including consolidating common procurement, concluding framework agreements, reviewing feasibility studies, preparing forms and training.
دون إخلال باختصاص الهيئة العامة للصناعات العسكرية، وتنفيذاً لأحكام النظام؛ تختص الجهة المختصة بالشراء الموحد بما يلي: 1- تحديد الأعمال والمشتريات التي تحتاج إلي
- Article 15
The article requires entities to buy what is on the unified procurement lists through its framework agreements unless it approves otherwise, and to submit feasibility studies and tender documents to it before putting them out, with specific exceptions.
1- لا يجوز للجهة الحكومية تأمين المشتريات أو تنفيذ الأعمال الواردة في القوائم التي تعدها الجهة المختصة بالشراء الموحد إلا من خلال الاتفاقيات الإطارية التي أبرمت
- Article 34
The article allows the government entity to use the electronic reverse auction on conditions: detailed specifications, a competitive market, bids received and ranked automatically through the portal, set dates, and information given to competitors.
للجهة الحكومية استخدام أسلوب المزايدة العكسية الإلكترونية وفقاً لما توضحه اللائحة، مع مراعاة الآتي: 1- أن تعد الجهة الحكومية مواصفات فنية مفصلة. 2- أن يكون هناك
- Article 35
The article allows the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, on its own initiative or at a government entity's request and with the Ministry of Finance's approval, to contract for localizing an industry and transferring knowledge.
للهيئة من تلقاء نفسها أو بناءً على طلب من إحدى الجهات الحكومية -بعد موافقة الوزارة- التعاقد على توطين صناعة ونقل معرفة وفقاً للضوابط التي تحددها اللائحة.
- Article 36
The article allows the government entity to contract for the best idea and design or other intellectual property rights by way of a competition, as the Implementing Regulations explain.
للجهة الحكومية أن تتعاقد على أفضل فكرة وتصميم، أو غيرها من حقوق الملكية الفكرية، عن طريق أسلوب المسابقة، وفقاً لما توضحه اللائحة.
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.