To the end of initiation the assessment process SIGMA representatives conduct the mission of collecting data in the course of February 2014 aiming to consider the current situation and offer assistance and further support in the public procurement field.
In this respect, OECD/SIGMA representatives, Mrs Susie Smith and Mr Daniel Ivarsson held the meeting on this occasion with the Head of the Public Procurement Administration, Mr Mersad Mujević and Ms Sandra Škatarić –The Head of Department for Professional Development, Training and International Cooperation. The Public Procurement Administration among the other things organized institutional visits on the contracting authority and the bidder side on which occasion the OECD/SIGMA representatives were acquainted with the current situation of the public procurement operations in practice.
The existing legal framework to the system of public procurement in Montenegro has been shown on this occasion thereby ensuring further opportunities for the reform process.
The Head of the Public Procurement Administration, Mr Mersad Mujević at the same time the Chief to the Working Group for Chapter V– Public Procurement stated the successful cooperation with SIGMA representatives achieved by organized workshops and participation in drafting of the Law Amending the Law on Public Procurement. It was pointed out the importance of successful public finance administration achieved through the key principles of cost-effectiveness, efficiency and best value for money taking the account of the aspects of sustainable development. Transparency of the procedures achieved through the appropriate information access was provided by establishing the public procurement portal available at the following link: – http://portal.ujn.gov.me. By the legal framework amendments in the following period, higher level of transparency regarding the publishing of tender documents will be reached.

In this respect, properly designed system of professional development and training of the main carriers in the public procurement field contributed to raising public awareness. Administrative capacity further strengthening is needed as by the SIGMA support, thus by the budgetary funds allocated for this issue, taking into account new obligations of the PPA following the Chapter V opening as well as those arisen from the EU process of integration. Ongoing process of the Project Fish design intended for initiation the electronic system of public procurement should be financially supported through EU`s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) funds.

PR Office of the Public Procurement Administration