Article 53 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
المادة 53 من نظام المنافسات والمشتريات الحكومية · الفصل الخامس: فترة التوقف
After the award decision is issued and announced, the Article requires the government entity to observe a standstill period of 5 to 10 working days in which the award may not be approved or the contract signed, so bidders can file a complaint.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تلتزم الجهة الحكومية بعد صدور قرار الترسية والإعلان عنه، بفترة توقف لا تقل عن (خمسة) أيام عمل ولا تزيد على (عشرة) أيام عمل؛ لا يجوز خلالها اعتماد الترسية وتوقيع العقد؛ وذلك لتمكين المتنافسين من التظلم من قرار الترسية.
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 53 explained in plain English
This Article creates an important safeguard for bidders: the standstill period, which Article 1 defines as a period starting from the date of notifying the bidders of the winning bid so that the complaints they submit can be considered.
When does it start? After the award decision is issued and announced.
How long is it? Not less than 5 working days and not more than 10 working days. It is counted in working days, not calendar days.
What is prohibited during it? The government entity may not:
- Approve the award.
- Sign the contract.
Why? The text states the purpose expressly: to enable the bidders to file a complaint against the award decision. If the contract were signed immediately, a complaint would have no practical effect.
The obligation here is on the government entity ("is bound"), and it may not go beyond this period. The complaint procedure itself and where it is filed are not addressed by this Article.
This period applies if the tender is not canceled; on cancellation Article 52 provides for refunding the value of the documents and the initial guarantees. As for the authority to decide tenders, Article 54 sets it, and it belongs to the head of the government entity with the possibility of delegation for amounts of up to 10 million riyals.
If you wish to file a complaint against an award decision, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative cases and government contracts.
Practical example
A government entity in Riyadh announced the award of a tender to a company that competed with Ahmed's company, and set a standstill period of 7 working days. During those days the entity could not approve the award or sign the contract, so Ahmed's company was able to file a complaint against the award decision.
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 53 of the Saudi Government Tenders and Procurement Law
How long is the standstill period after the award?
Not less than 5 working days and not more than 10 working days.
May the contract be signed during the standstill period?
No. During it the award may not be approved and the contract may not be signed.
What is the purpose of the standstill period?
To enable the bidders to file a complaint against the award decision.
More articles on Examining Bids and Award
- 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.
- Article 43
The article provides for forming one or more bid-opening committees by decision of the head of the government entity or his delegate, as the Implementing Regulations explain.
تكوّن بقرار من رئيس الجهة الحكومية أو من يفوضه لجنة أو أكثر لفتح العروض، وفقاً لما توضحه اللائحة.
- Article 44
The article requires bids to be opened in the presence of all committee members when the receiving period ends, with minutes prepared, lets bidders attend, and requires referral to the examination committee within 3 days.
1- تفتح العروض بحضور جميع أعضاء اللجنة في موعد انتهاء مدة تلقي العروض، ويعَد محضر بذلك، وفي الحالات التي تتطلب تقديم عرض فني مستقل عن العرض المالي، تفتح العروض
- Article 45
The article governs forming the bid-examination committee, its tasks, the unified procurement entity's participation and recording its recommendations in minutes, and bars combining its chairmanship with award authority or with the opening committee.
1- تكوّن لجنة أو أكثر بقرار من رئيس الجهة الحكومية أو من يفوضه لفحص العروض، وفقاً لما توضحه اللائحة. وتتولى هذه اللجنة فحص العروض وتقديم توصياتها في الترسية على
- Article 46
The Article requires bids to be examined against the tender documents' criteria, non-compliant bids excluded and their guarantees returned; where bids are split, technical bids are examined first, then the financial bids of accepted technical bids.
1- تفحص العروض وفقاً للمعايير المنصوص عليها في وثائق المنافسة، وتستبعد العروض المخالفة، وترد الضمانات الابتدائية لأصحابها. 2- في حال قدمت العروض في ملفين إلكترو
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.