Maltese Government starts using eProcurement ( 08 July 2011)

UK:By Adrienne Valdez | 8 July 2011 An eProcurement solution was launched to facilitate the Maltese Government's transition to online procurement, covering the full lifecycle of public procurement, from the publishing stage to award and execution of contracts. The eProcurement solution will enable actual tender bids to be submitted securely on line as well as new possibilities such as 'reverse auctions' where bidders compete to offer the lowest price. These solutions have been proven to result in better value for Government. According to Malta Information Technology Agency Chairman (MITA), Claudio Grech, MITA will soon be rolling-out a next generation eGovernment platform which will bring about a complete paradigm shift in electronic services. "The eProcurement solution is a vital component for our plans in having complete environment through which both the public and private sectors can attain the most benefits. Public entities will be able to provide value added services not only to their suppliers but also so their own workforce and internal management systems," Grech said in an official statement. The service provider, European Dynamics SA, will use their most advanced platform and aside from the complete procurement cycle, offering additional functionalities such as eCatalogues and eOrdering. Initially the eProcurement solution will be used by the Department of Contracts and MITA internally. In the coming months it will be accessible also by the private sector to start submitting bids online. Within Government, there are approximately 150 other contracting authorities which publish tenders and these will eventually also start using the eProcurement solution.