In Niger, the Autorité de Régulation de la Commande Publique (ARCOP) is responsible for regulating the public procurement system. The agency's mission is to ensure good governance, transparency, and efficiency in public spending. To achieve this, ARCOP has established a rigorous process for executing public expenditures. This process aims to guarantee equal treatment of candidates and effectiveness of procedures.
The ARCOP has created a Committee for Dispute Resolution to address issues that may arise during the procurement process. Additionally, the agency provides direct exchange spaces for stakeholders to offer practical advice, request clarifications, or report non-compliant practices. A toll-free number, a periodic publication, and a website have been set up to facilitate communication between public procurement actors.
The public procurement process in Niger involves several procedures, including Open Tender, Restricted Tender, Request for Quotations, and Direct Agreement. These procedures are designed to ensure transparency and equal opportunities for all candidates. The process also involves several stages, from needs assessment to contract execution, to ensure that public funds are used efficiently.
To ensure transparency, all stages of the public procurement process are subject to control and supervision. This includes the planning of public procurement plans, the preparation of consultation documents, and the reception and opening of bids. The Direction Générale du Contrôle des Marchés Publics et des Opérations Budgétaires (DGCMP/OB) is responsible for ex-ante control of public procurement and public service delegations.
Before launching a public procurement process, several prerequisites must be met. These include verifying the feasibility of the project, ensuring that the necessary credits are available, and checking the consultation documents and advertising deadlines. Once bids are received, they must be securely stored and recorded in a register until the bid opening session.
The bid opening session is a critical stage of the public procurement process. It is supervised by the DGCMP/OB and takes place at least 30 minutes after the deadline for bid submission. The goal is to ensure that the process is transparent and that all stakeholders have an equal opportunity to participate.
The ultimate goal of Niger's public procurement process is to protect the public interest. By ensuring transparency, efficiency, and equal treatment of candidates, the government aims to promote good governance and accountability in public spending. The ARCOP plays a crucial role in achieving this goal by regulating and supervising the public procurement process.
Key points
- The Autorité de Régulation de la Commande Publique (ARCOP) regulates Niger's public procurement system to ensure good governance, transparency, and efficiency.
- The public procurement process involves several procedures, including Open Tender, Restricted Tender, and Direct Agreement.
- The process is subject to control and supervision to ensure transparency and equal opportunities for all candidates.
