Highway 61 passes through Hoà An hamlet, Định An commune, Gò Quao district. It is currently under construction. Transparency of bidding packages related to infrastructure projects is still on top of domestic bidders’ concerns. - VNA/VNS Photo Lê Sen

HÀ NỘI (VNS) — Most domestic bidders continue to lack confidence in the transparent competition when bidding on projects.

Of particular concern was the transparency of bidding packages related to construction and infrastructure projects, such as designated bidding packages and the possible biased selection of bidders. Also, the target of selecting bidders is quite vague.

Nguyễn Văn Đệ, chairman of Thanh Hoa Entrepreneur Association, said many businesses do not voice their concerns about the unfair bidding mechanism, as they are afraid of losing their financing and receiving negative ratings on their business performance.

Đệ said this situation was very common, not only in central Thanh Hóa Province, but throughout the country. Such problems are resulting in businesses losing confidence in efforts to revise the bidding mechanism by the Government and relevant agencies, in an attempt to improve the business climate.

Despite making great efforts to enhance transparency and increase professional expertise in the bidding process, there are existing problems in Bidding Law 2013, such as its remaining inconsistent with reality, in its failing to follow market-oriented mechanisms and encourage healthy competition.

Ninh Viết Định, from Electricity of Việt Nam (EVN), said bidders always attached importance to healthy competition in bidding. Though bidding often fell below their expectations, thus resulting in frequent conflicts in bidding.

Định added that strict inspections should be made to control foreign bidders. The law should spell out clear regulations on joint ventures with local bidders, or requirements to use local sub-contractors.

Further, the relationship between bidders and different contractors in a bidding process needs to be conducted in a transparent manner to avoid conflict, he said.

According to Định, the State stipulated that transparent bidding packages must be made available through online websites and on paper to ensure transparency and encourage using electronic methods in bidding. Yet, it was noted that human interaction remains the most important factor.

Lê Minh Hải, general director of Đà Nẵng – Miền Trung Investment JSC, said in many cases bidders have to deal with difficulties in payments, and even winning bidders fail to carry out projects on schedule due to inflexible regulations found in the existing Bidding Law. As a result, such problems cause additional difficulties for bidders.

Hải noted that the Bidding Law in 2013 needs to ensure the principles of transparency, competition and efficiency concerning bidding invitation announcements, bidding documents and bidding procedures. — VNS