Article 38 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
المادة 38 من نظام المنافسات والمشتريات الحكومية · الفصل الأول: تقديم العروض
The article allows the government entity to ask competitors to attach a sample of the required procurement to their bids.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
للجهة الحكومية طلب إرفاق عينة من المشتريات المطلوبة.
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 38 explained in plain English
This is a short article that gives the government entity the power to ask for a sample of the required procurement to be attached to the bids.
In practice this means:
- The request is optional for the entity; it may ask for the sample if it sees a need for it, and not every tender requires a sample.
- The text speaks of procurement, that is, items and goods of which a model can be provided, so the entity can verify that they match what it wants before contracting.
- If the entity asks for the sample, a competitor who wants to take part needs to comply with the request as the tender documents set out.
The article does not state the number of samples, how they are delivered, or what happens to them after testing, and does not mention the effect of not providing them, so these details are learned from the tender documents themselves and what the Implementing Regulations and other provisions decide.
This article complements the general rules for submitting bids in Article 37, which requires bids to be submitted encrypted through the portal by the set deadline. It is also linked to Article 39, which sets the validity period of bids at 90 days from the date set for opening them.
If a dispute arises over a sample your enterprise provided or over its evaluation, you can consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative disputes and government contracts.
Practical example
A government entity put out a tender to supply uniforms for its employees, and asked in the tender documents for a sample of the fabric and tailoring to be attached to the bid. A factory in Qassim attached its sample to its bid so the entity could verify its quality and conformity.
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 38 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
May a government entity ask for a sample of the product with the bid?
Yes. The article allows the government entity to ask for a sample of the required procurement to be attached.
Is providing a sample mandatory in every tender?
No. The text makes asking for a sample an option for the government entity, so it is required only if the entity asks for it.
Where do I find the details of providing the sample?
The article does not state the details; they are learned from the tender documents and what the Implementing Regulations decide.
More articles on Submitting Bids and the Initial Guarantee
- Article 37
The article requires bids to be submitted encrypted through the portal by the set deadline, allows sealed envelopes if the portal is technically unavailable, and requires the entity to announce the names of those who applied.
1- تقدم العروض مشفرة من خلال البوابة، وفق ما تحدده اللائحة. 2- تقدم العروض في الموعد المحدد لقبولها، ولا يجوز قبول العروض التي تقدم بخلاف ذلك. 3- يجوز قبول العر
- Article 39
The article sets bid validity at 90 days from opening, with the initial guarantee not returned to a bidder who withdraws during it, and allows extension by another 90 days with the guarantee also extended.
1- تكون مدة سريان العروض في المنافسات (تسعين) يوماً من التاريخ المحدد لفتح العروض، فإن سحب مقدم العرض عرضه خلال هذه المدة فلا يعاد إليه ضمانه الابتدائي. 2- يجوز
- Article 40
The article requires total prices and any increase or reduction to be stated in the bid letter itself, disregards a reduction in a separate letter, and bars changing prices after submission except where negotiation is permitted.
1- يجب أن تحدد الأسعار الإجمالية وما يرد عليها من زيادة أو تخفيض في خطاب العرض، ولا يعتد بأي تخفيض يقدم بوساطة خطاب مستقل حتى لو كان مرافقاً للعرض. 2- لا يجوز ل
- Article 41
The article requires the competitor to submit an initial guarantee of 1% to 2% of the bid value with his bid, and a bid without the guarantee is excluded.
1- يُقدم المتنافس مع عرضه ضماناً ابتدائياً بنسبة تتراوح من (1%) إلى (2%) من قيمة العرض. ويستبعد العرض الذي لم يقدم معه الضمان. 2- تحدد اللائحة الأحكام المتعلقة
- Article 42
The article excepts five cases from the duty to provide the initial guarantee, including direct purchase, the competition, contracts among government entities, and contracting with local small and medium enterprises.
استثناء من حكم المادة (الحادية والأربعين) من النظام، لا يلزم تقديم الضمان الابتدائي في الحالات الآتية: 1- الشراء المباشر. 2- المسابقة. 3- تعاقدات الجهات الحكومي
- Article 63
The Article sets the accepted forms of guarantee in tenders and government contracts: a guarantee letter from a local bank, from a foreign bank through a local bank, or any form the Regulations specify.
تقبل الضمانات إذا كانت وفق أحد الأشكال الآتية: 1- خطاب ضمان بنكي من أحد البنوك المحلية. 2- خطاب ضمان بنكي من بنك خارج المملكة يقدم بوساطة أحد البنوك المحلية. 3-
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.