Overseas Practice In Disclosure Of Tenders

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29357, 9 November 1960, Page 8

Overseas Practice In Disclosure Of Tenders

The policy not to give the exact amount of a tender price, x made in 1951 after a meeting of Government departments in Wellington, and a longestablished rule not to publish the names or price quotations of unsuccessful tenderers, led “The Press” to make inquiries on tender practices in other countries.

In New Zealand, since 1951, only the names of the successful tenderer have been published—and not for other than major works—and only the approximate prices have been mentioned by Ministers in statements on projects of wide public interest.

The questions asked by “The Press” and a summary of replies from -Government sources are:—

Are tenders opened in public? Australian Commonwealth Gov* ment.-r-No.

Western Australian Govern' ment—Yes:

South Australian Government.— No. Tenders are opened each Mon* day at 3 p.m. during the weekly' meeting of the tenders board. Tasmania (various departments).—No.

New South Wales.—Metropolitan water, sewerage and drainage board: No. Department of Main Roads: Yes. Railways Department: No. Eelctricity Commission: No. Public Works Department: Yes. Queensland (stores board).—No, but tenderers are present. Western Germany.—No,'but tenderers may be present. India.—No, but tenderers may be present.

Union of South Africa.—Yes. United States (public works).— Yes. Canada.—Yes. United Kingdom.—No.

Is the name of the successful tenderer and the amount of his tender made public? Australian Commonwealth Government.—Yes.

West Australian Government.— Yes.

South Australian Government. — No. In 1934 a widely representative businessmen’s deputation requested the Supply and Tender Board to stop publishing, such information.

Tasmanian Government.—Supply and Tender Department: No. Public Works Department: Yes. Transport Commission: No. Hydroelectric Commission: No. Housing Department: Yes. New South Wales.—Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage. Board: No. Main Roads Department: Yes, after contract is signed. Railways Department: No. Electricity Commission: No. Public Works Department: Yes. Queensland (stores board): The name of the successful tenderer, the prices and discount of the tender are read out to tenderers but not to the general public. Western Germany.—No. India.—No.

Union of South Africa.—After adjudication of tenders, tenderers are entitled to obtain particulars of the successful tender in writing by telephoning or by personal inquiry at the Tender Board’s Office.

United States.—Yes. Canada.—The names and amounts of all tenders are announced at the public tender opening and the successful bidder is notified by letter. In addition, press releases are issued in the majority of contract awards. United Kingdom.—The Ministry of Works commenced in August public announcements on tenders for straight-forwaM building and civil engineering jobs more than £4OOO in value, as a 12 months’ experiment, but the practice is not being adopted by Government departments generally.

Through what medium are the name and amount of the successful tender made public?

Australia. “ Commonwealth Government Gazette." Western Australian Government.—The information is posted on the notice board of the Public Works Department and may be inspected by the public during office hours. Tenders accepted are also published in “Tenders,” a Melbourne publication. South Australian Government. —No publication. Tasmania —Supply and Tender Department: No publication. Public Works Department: Government “Gazette,” and the press. Transport Commission: No publication. Hydro-electric Commission: No publication. Housing Department: No publication, except that copies of tender schedules are sent, at the request of editors, to “Tenders,” and a New South Wales publication, “Construction/ 1

New South Wales.—Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board: If a publication is interested in a particular tender, it can, on request, ascertain the name and price of the successful tender. Main Roads Department: AU successful tenders appear on the department’s notice board. Details of tenders more than £3OOO appear in the department’s quarterly, “Main Roads.” Details are also forwarded to selected trade journals. Railways Department: No publication. Electricity Commission: No publication. Public Works Department: Details of all tenders are placed on the notice board in the “contracts" room after every contract is signed. The room is open to the public during working hours and the method is considered by the department to be a medium of official publication of the outcome of tenders. Queensland.—-No medium. Western Germany.—No medium. India.—No medium.

Union of South Africa.—Copies of aU tender notices are exhibited on the notice board at the Tender Board’s office and copies are also sent to the Chambers of Commerce at aU the main centres where or nearest to which the supplies are required for display on their notice boards. Tender notices are not published in the general press. United States.—Tenders are announced through public bulletin boards, in public buildings, and in trade journals, “Blue's Catalogue,” “Dodge’s Catalogue,” and Government publications. The original abstract is kept on file in the office of the Public Works Division and a copy is sent to all bidders.

Canada.—There is no printed publication by the Public Works Department

United Kingdom: Notification is I made by letter by the Ministry Works to all tenderers, except ‘the lowest, at the time of acceptance is issued. A list of these contracts and the contractors, but not the contract prices, is sent weekly to the trade and technical press.

Ara the nunet of unsuccessful tenders and the amounts of their tenders published? Australian Commonwealth Government.—Supply Department: No. Postmaster General’s Department: No. Successful candidates are advised by letter. West Australian Government.— A list showing the names and amounts of all tenders is kept at the office of the Public Works Department and is available to the' public South Australian Government: No. Tasmanian Government.—No. New South Wales (all departments).—No. Queensland (stores board). —No publication, but a formally written advice is given to unsuccessful tenderers. Western Germany.—No. Names and prices are quoted when tenders are opened, when all tenderers may be present . India.—No. Union of South Africa.—No. United States.—Yes. Canada.—There is no printed publication by the Public Works Department listing unsuccessful bidders. United Kingdom.—No. Is there any provision otherwise for unsuccessful tenderers to be informed, on their / request or otherwise, of the successful tenderer’s name and amount? Australian Government.—Supply Department: Unsuccessful tenderers are informed, upon application; in the case of purchases, the information; in the case of disposal of surplus equipment, the name only of the successful tenderer. West Australian Government.— No lists of successful tenderers being published, all particulars are given to interested parties by mail or telephone.. South Australian Government. —the only information disclosed to a bona fide unsuccessful tenderer is the name of the successful tenderer. Tasmanian Government.—The Supply and Tender Department will advise the name of the successful tenderer but not the price. The Public Works Department’s attitude is not known. The Transport Commission advises unsuccessful tenderers but prices are not mentioned. “However, if asked, the commission would, no doubt, disclose the prices” was the official reply. The Hydro-elec-tric Commission tells unsuccessful tenderers the name of the successful tenderer but the amount is kept confidential. The Housing Department advises by post tenderers that they are unsuccessful. On request, those tenderers are supplied with the names and prices of the other tenderers.

New South Wales.—Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board: Unsuccessful tenderers are advised by letter of the successful tender and, if interested, can get details of the accepted tender. Main Roads Department: If specifically asked, the department would tell names of other tenderers but not give the successful price. Railways Department: The name of the successful tenderer, but not the-amount, would be made available to a bona fide tenderer. Electricity Commission: The name of the successful tenderer, but not the price. given on a “specified request.”

Queensland (stores board).— There is' provision for unsuccessful tenderers, by personal visit or written request, to ascertain the name of the successful tendered, but not the price.

Western Germany.—The only notification is given to the successful tenderer.

India.—As unsuccessful tenderers are generally present when tenders are opened, the publication of information on names and amounts in any official gazette or otherwise is not considered necessary.

Union of South Africa—There is no general publication of data. Notification is given to a successful tenderer by a "letter of acceptance” and to unsuccessful tenderers by a “letter of nonacceptance.”

United States.—The answer to this question is given in the earlier repliejs. Canada.—Unsuccessful tenderers may obtain the name of the successful bidder and the amount by writing to or telephoning the Public Works Department. The Canadian Construction Association automatically gives in its tenders report to members who have bid the names of tenderers and amounts. Further, a copy is forwarded to a member on request. The association attends the public opening of tenders and publishes its tender report immediately.

United Kingdom.—ln cases where Government departments do not disclose tender prices, tenderers can, by telephoning the department, ascertain whether the tender Is successful. If unsuccessful, the tenderers are given an indication of the margin in price by which they have failed.

Office Entered.—The office of Salisbury Motors, used car dealers, at 839 Colombo street, was entered in the early hours of yesterday by breaking a glass panel in a door. The sum of £1 2s was taken from a brief case left in the office. A nearby resident saw two young men near the premises ■ -’Si ‘e’ephonedl the Central Pdiice Station, but the men could not be found.