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An introductory text on public procurement and contract administration, this book covers the public procurement process; procurement planning; requesting, receiving and evaluating bids and proposals; contract negotiations and award; and contract administration (from commencement to close-out). A glossary of terms used in the text is also included, with suggestions for further reading.

The acquisition of goods, works, and services through public fund is called public procurement. Public procurement is obligatory for the successful implementation of public projects. Public procurement encompasses following processes: - Preparation of annual budget after estimation of needs by the procuring agencies, - Preparation of annual procurement plans following budgetary allocation, and- Accomplishment of procurement plans through a procurement process which includes submission of bids, bid opening, evaluation of bids, contract award, and contract management.The main objective of public procurement is the provision of quality and cost effective goods, works and services to the public through public projects.Public procurement begins with the identification of needs and stimuli required for implementing public projects; categorization of these requirements into goods, works, and services; cost estimation; suppliers management; contract award and management; supply and receipt of goods, works, and services; efficient and effective utilization of goods and services procured to achieve desired results; and maintenance and disposal.Gone are the days when public procurement was considered as just the simple task of purchasing of goods, works, and services which was handled by clerks and store keepers. Recent years has seen public procurement as a complex procedure, which includes involvement of multiple stakeholders. Public procurement in our time is conducted and managed by qualified and competent professionals.Governments introduce public projects to improve the standards of living of the public. The main objective of these projects is to convert available resources into timely, cost-effective and quality services. Adhering to public procurement rules and regulations is vital for accountability of public spending and supports good governance. It also helps to improve economic and social development of a country. Efficient public procurement is essential to ensure timely acquisition of goods, works, and services intended for the public.The magnitude of public procurement in every country is accumulating rapidly, resulting from mammoth growth in economic activities across the nations. A boom in information technology has increased the awareness among the public about their rights of access to benefits from public projects; they are now at a vantage point to dare and analyze the outcome of public procurements. They are aware of the fact that poor procurement practices can inhibit them from receiving benefits of these projects.Public pressure on their governments for timely, quality, and cost-efficient delivery of services is increasing consistently. This growing pressure obliges governments to focus more cuttingly on improvements in procurement legal framework and procedures; with emphasis on risk management, accountability, probity mechanisms. The governments are searching for innovative techniques, including e-procurement, public private partnership and green procurement etc.Public procurement reforms are largely dependent on how a government addresses the capacity-building needs of procuring agencies and public officials to successfully conduct a procurement process. The aim of effective application of procurement reforms is to have a significant impact on the economic development of a country's public and private sectors. Nevertheless, in developing countries, minute consideration is paid to capacity building of the procuring agencies and development of the private sector for and through public procurement.

The purpose of these Guidelines is to define the Bank's policies and procedures for selecting, contracting, and monitoring consultants required for projects that are financed in whole or in part by loans from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), credits or grants from the International Development Association (IDA), or grants from the Bank or trust funds administered by the Bank and executed by the beneficiary.

This revised edition of the Standard Bidding Documents accounts for editorial corrections and incorporates the text of previous corrigenda. These documents have been prepared by the World Bank for use by borrowers and their implementing agencies in the procurement of goods through international competitive bidding. The procedures and practices presented in this document have been developed through broad international experience and are mandatory for use in projects that are financed in whole or in part by the World Bank, in accordance with the provisions of the latest edition of Guidelines: Procurement Under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits. This edition contains nine sections, which cover invitation for bids, instructions to bidders, bid sheet data, general and special conditions of contract, schedule of requirements, technical specifications, sample forms, and eligibility for provision of goods, works, and services in Bank-financed procurement. [World Bank website]