Agreement on Govt Procurement
The Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) is a multilateral agreement that governs the procurement of goods and services by government entities. The agreement was established in 1979 under the auspices of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and was later incorporated into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1994.
The GPA sets out the rules and procedures that must be followed by government entities when procuring goods and services. These rules are designed to ensure that the procurement process is fair and transparent, and that all potential suppliers have an equal opportunity to bid on government contracts.
Under the terms of the GPA, government entities must publish notices of their procurement opportunities and provide interested suppliers with sufficient information to enable them to prepare and submit bids. The procurement process must also be conducted in a non-discriminatory manner, with all potential suppliers treated equally.
The GPA applies to a range of goods and services, including construction and architecture services, computer and related services, and research and development services. It also covers procurement by sub-central government entities, such as municipalities and other local authorities.
The GPA has been signed by 20 WTO members, including the United States, the European Union, Japan, and Canada. Several other countries, including China, Russia, and India, are in the process of negotiating accession to the agreement.
One of the key benefits of the GPA is that it helps to promote competition among suppliers, which can lead to lower prices and better quality goods and services. It also helps to ensure that government entities are able to make procurement decisions based on objective criteria rather than subjective factors such as political influence.
In conclusion, the Agreement on Government Procurement is an important multilateral agreement that sets out the rules and procedures for government procurement of goods and services. Its provisions help to promote fairness, transparency, and competition in the procurement process, which ultimately benefits both government entities and suppliers. As such, it is an important tool for facilitating international trade and economic development.