Romania Won’t Suspend Public Procurement Auctions When Challenged By Bidders

Under the amended legislation, bidders contesting public auctions will notify the contracting authority that it is to address the National Auction Settlement Council but the move no longer halts auction or contract awarding procedures.

"Any contest will be settled when the procedure is finalized and the public works contract may be signed as soon as the challenge is settled," Cristina Traila, head of Romania's public procurement watchdog, told a news conference Thursday.

People close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Tuesday that Romania has amended its public procurement legislation, which now bans bidders from challenging auctions until the procedure is finished and shortens settlement terms to ten days from the previous 20.

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said in February the Government would amend public procurement legislation to shorten auction procedures and hinder abusive challenges in court that block and delay public works.

The country's auction settlement authority received 9,218 challenges last year, 41% more than in 2008.

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