With effect from 9 October, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is accepting tenders for all contracts worth more than half a million dollars via the internet. Vendors who are interested in bidding for such contracts will no longer need to be located in Oman nor be registered with PDO.
“Everything will be done on line”, says project leader Mahmoud al Lawatia. “Doing business with PDO will become streamlined, and the progression from announcement to award will become absolutely transparent and auditable.”
Up to 10 tender packages per week may be uploaded onto the new on-line tender system, found at the www.pdotenders.com web address and also accessible through a hyperlink on PDO’s internet website at www.pdo.co.om. All in all, contracts with a total value of approximately $2 billion are expected to be awarded over the course of a year.
For companies that wish to do business with PDO the system offers many advantages. It will make it easy for them to reach the right person in the company to kick off the pre-tender procedures. It will also save a great deal of time for everyone involved in the process. Only the winning bidder will have its technical suitability examined by PDO, and only the winning bidder will have to be approved by the Company’s tender board.
“Through the simple expedient of embracing open tendering, we should become a more responsive organization and one that is getting best value for money”, says Contracting and Procurement Manager, Mohammed Toki.
PDO also aims to allow local companies to promote their services online. In this way, Omani companies will be able to market their services to a worldwide audience and get a better chance to work with new and innovative partners. (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
