Transparency International – Bulgaria has proposed to the government the inclusion of Integrity pacts in the implementation of larger projects into public procurement.
The Integrity Pact (IP) in public procurement procedures is a tool for prevention of corruption and opaque management of public funds.
The Integrity Pact could serve as an effective tool for civil control, with its positive impact mainly in: identifying potential risks in the implementation of public procurement, raising public awareness, descent effect on contracting authorities and contractors, assistance in compliance with key parameters in public procurement contracts.
In this regard it is appropriate to initiate a change in the legal framework to include elements of civil monitoring in the process of public procurement with great material interest and/or high public significance.
The change should provide for the possibility of monitoring in all phases of preparation and implementation of public procurement, covering both contracting and managing authorities, on one hand, and tenderers and contractors, on the other. The monitoring actions shall not be binding for the participants – they shall be perceived as an expert opinion by both the monitored parties, the public and the media.
“Infrastructure projects have been implemented for many years and dynamic dialogue is extremely important because there is no contract that is designed to anticipate all developments. That is why communication and dialogue throughout the process is extremely important and helps the parties in the process, “said Kalin Slavov, Executive Director of the Transparency International – Bulgaria.
Source of information: Bulgarian National Radio