GeBIZ
GeBIZ is a Government-to-business (G2B) Public eProcurement business centre where suppliers can conduct electronic commerce with the Singapore Government. All of the public sector's invitations for quotations and tenders (except for security-sensitive contracts) are posted on GeBIZ. Suppliers can search for government procurement opportunities, retrieve relevant procurement documentations and submit their bids online.
History
Singapore's GeBIZ, or the Government Electronic Business Centre, was set up in June 2000 to simplify government procurement and tender activities. It was part of the programmes for businesses under the e-Government Action Plan (eGAP I) (2000–2003) in Singapore.[1]
As a one-stop centre for suppliers to have access to all procurement opportunities in the public sector and to trade electronically with the government, GeBIZ would create an entry point for businesses to access G2B services in an enterprise-centric manner instead of an agency-centric manner.[2]
Purpose
The end-to-end public e-procurement solution acts a stimulus to the development of e-commerce in Singapore. On one hand, public agencies enjoy the benefits of making electronic purchases of commonly used items; on the other hand, suppliers and tender bidders enjoy broader access to government tenders and quotations.[3] Such a platform supports the procurement regime that is underpinned by the following fundamental principles:[4]
- Transparency;
- Fair and Open Competition; and
- Value for Money
Beyond direct efficiency and cost savings, having a common e-procurement system for the entire public sector in Singapore resulted in transactions that accordance with government procurement policies (including World Trade Organisation - Agreement to Government Procurement).[2]
Other than having clear and comprehensive regulations (including legal and institutional framework) for the conduct of public procurement, it is also noted that GeBIZ enables greater transparency as all procurement operations, beginning with the announcement of a tender to the awarding of the contract, are published online.[3] As such, local citizens and entrepreneurs benefit from the Singapore government's one-stop e-procurement portal since it helps level the competition to allow small and medium businesses to compete with established vendors whenever an agency issues an invitation to quote.[5]
Innovations
The e-procurement platform used in Singapore has been commercialised by IDA International.[6] The new commercialised GeBIZ platform will serve as a one-stop e-business solution tool that will facilitate trading between organisations and their local and overseas suppliers.
For non-government agencies and business that want to adopt the Singapore Government's procurement best practices, the new GeBIZ platform will operate on a Software-as-a-Service platform, enabling businesses to pay according to specified preferences.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ "e-Government Action Plan I".
- 1 2 "The Singapore E-Government Procurement Experience".
- 1 2 Patricia J. Pascual (2003). E-Government. p. 10.
- ↑ Civil Service College, Singapore. "Value for Money in Singapore's Government Procurement Regime" (PDF). p. 3.
- ↑
- 1 2 "GeBIZ platform to be marketed".