Tenders and Procurement

Regulation of government purchasing and procurement procedures is essential to Saudi’s efforts. This section specifies the goals of the government tenders and procurement laws when utilizing contracting services and consultancy and non-consultancy services. It will also provide awareness of the electronic government procurement system, also known as the Etimad Portal, which consolidates and facilitates government procurement for all government sectors. Here, you will become informed about the most important services Etimad provides, the statistical achievements, and an increase in the number of contracts and government tenders and procurements.

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Saudi Arabia places significant importance on organizing procedures related to government tenders and procurements to maximize the benefits from contracting services, and consultancy and non-consultancy services. This includes the e-Government Procurement Law known as "Etimad" platform, which is designed to unify and simplify procurement processes across all government sectors. The platform provides access to key services it offers, along with statistical achievements reflecting the growing number of contracts, tenders, and government purchases.

Saudi Arabia has strived to regulate government purchasing and procurement procedures, thereby maximizing the utilization of public funds when contracting services, consultancy and non-consultancy services, etc. The Government Tenders and Procurement Law and its Implementing Regulations were issued to regulate this process.

Targets of the Government Tenders and Procurement Law

According to Article 12, the Government Tenders and Procurement Law mandates government entities to publish their annual plans aligned with their budgets, containing essential information regarding their businesses and procurements.

The Law aims to:

Regulating government tenders and procurement processes and preventing them from being influenced by personal interests, in the protection of public funds.

Achieving maximum economic self-sufficiency for procuring government purchases and achieving its projects at fair and competitive prices.

Enhancing integrity, transparency, and competitiveness, and ensuring fair treatment of contractors; ensuring equal opportunity.

Achieving transparency at every step of the government procurement process.

The Electronic Government Procurement System - Etimad Portal

Launched in 2018, Etimad Platform is a cornerstone of the Saudi Arabia’s e-government initiatives.

The platform aims to unify and simplify the government tenders and procurement procedures across all sectors, promoting transparency between government entities and suppliers. It contributes to reaching a larger number of suppliers and enhances competition and quality in government projects. The platform enables the posting of tenders, receiving invitations, purchasing bid documents, examining offers, and completing the awarding process entirely online.

Key Services Provided by Etimad Platform for the Private Sector and Individuals include:

Tender Viewing Service

This e-service allows registered suppliers, government entities, and system visitors to access detailed information about specific tenders without contacting the relevant authority.

Future Tender Projects Service

This service enables suppliers to view a list of upcoming tenders organized by government entities.

Tender Document Purchase Service

This service allows registered suppliers to participate in tenders by purchasing tender documents and specifications to review its details.

Inquiries and Responses Service

This service enables the employees of the procurement and tender department to review and respond to suppliers' inquiries electronically.

Tender Submission and Application Service

This service enables suppliers participating in a specific tender to submit their proposals electronically.

Tender Status Tracking Service

This service allows suppliers and contractors to track the status of their submitted bids for public or private tenders online.

Award Results Display Service

This e-service enables government agencies to carry out the award process easily and efficiently, by selecting the winning bid without the need to visit the relevant agency.

Financial Claims for Invoices Service

This e-service provided by the Ministry of Finance enables suppliers to submit requests for financial claims related to government tenders and procurements without the need to visit the relevant authority.

Response to Direct Purchase Invitation

This service enables registered suppliers to respond to direct purchase invitations addressed to them by the government agencies, either by accepting or rejecting the offer.

Supplier registration Service

This service slows companies and institutions to register electronically on the platform and access data sources through integration with relevant authorities.

User Guide for Tender and Procurement Management Services for the Private Sector

Open Data

Open data refers to information accessible to everyone, free from technical, financial, or legal restrictions, with the option to reuse or share it under its associated licensing terms, through the Open Data Platform.

Open Data Platform

The National Open Data Platform in Saudi Arabia is a key initiative within the national open data strategy. It aims to create a public database to promote transparency, encourage community participation, and foster innovation. The platform's main role is to display datasets published by ministries and government entities in an open, reusable format. It allows beneficiaries to access, request, download, and use open data to develop innovative applications or research projects. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) continuously updates the platform in partnership with various national stakeholders to achieve the objectives of the open data strategy and Vision 2030. For more information, click here.

The Ministry of Finance has launched a data platform that allows visitors to its portal to access and benefit from published data. The platform includes the National Data Portal, which includes a detailed annual monitoring of the Saudi Arabia's budget, with the ability to go back to previous years and view the details of each year. The platform also includes a diverse list of files containing various downloadable data in several formats. To view them, click here.

The Riyadh Municipality has provided open data to all visitors through an open library containing several types of data in multiple formats that facilitate processing and reuse, in order to enhance transparency and encourage electronic participation. The Municipality has also enabled the beneficiary to obtain data in various formats by submitting an open data request, with responses provided within 30 working days from the submission date.

Etimad Highlights and Statistics

Since the platform launch (Jan 2018):

2.8 M Payment orders

+250K ERKAB Order

1.09B Contract Value

+570K Contract

+900K Proposal

+2M Financial Claim