RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONGPA/W/24/Add.7
5 October 1998
(98-3837)
Committee on Government Procurement Original:  English
QUESTIONNAIRE ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Response by Singapore
Addendum
The attached communication contains the replies from Singapore to the questionnaire on
Information Technology in Government Procur ement contained in document GPA/W/24, dated
22 August 1996.GPA/W/24/Add.7
Page 2
QUESTIONNAIRE ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
1. Could delegations give a brief description of any steps taken or planned to introduce
information technology into public procurement?  If  so, does this cover contracts which are covered
under the 1994 Agreement?  At all levels of gover nment?  In the event that delegations are not
considering introducing information technology into public procurement, could they explain the
reasons?
The Government Internet Tendering Information System (GITIS) was introduced in
May 1997 to enable all government agencies to post tender information on the Internet.  The system
provides information on procurement tender opportunities and notices of tenders received and tenders
awarded.  GITIS covers both GPA and non-GPA contracts.  GITIS can be accessed at
http://wwwdb1.gov.sg/gitis/index.html.
In April 1998, the Mindef Internet Procuremen t System (MIPS) was launched.  MIPS is an
Internet e-commerce system that supports secured electronic transactions between the Singapore
Ministry of Defence and suppliers.  The system allows suppliers to submit bids electronically using
smart-card technology.  Suppliers who are not smart-card enabled can view the procurement
opportunities available and submit bids through traditional means.  MIPS can be accessed at
http://mips.mindef.gov.sg.
There are hot-links between GITIS and MIPS.  Hence any interested suppliers would only
need to access a single web site to access all procurement opportunities, both GPA and non-GPA,
with any government agency in Singapore.
2. What function(s) would information technology  serve in such systems and who will be the
users?
Information technology is a very powerful tool to make procurement information available to
anyone anywhere anytime.  The users are the Government Procurement Entities, suppliers and the
public at large.
3. Could delegations describe the technical aspects of the systems in use or planned?  In
particular as regards infrastructure/hardware-software and its options/standards?
GITIS is built on a Windows NT hardware environment using Oracle 7.3 as the database
management system.  The development tool is Oracle PL/SQL and Active Server Pages (ASP).
MIPS is built on a Unix hardware environment using Oracle as the database management
system.  The development tool is Java.
4. Could delegations describe any limitations affecting access to information available and use
of systems?  How wide is potential access to interested suppliers?  What are the access possibilities
for suppliers of other signatory countries?  What possible obstacles to access might arise for
suppliers in other signatory countries?
GITIS and MIPS are accessible globally.  Feedback indicates that foreign suppliers
enthusiastically welcome the system, as it is a more convenient mode of access compared to
newspaper or other media.  IT has helped to reduce the information gap between local and foreign
suppliers tremendously.  Foreign suppliers now obtain the same information as local suppliers and at
the same time.GPA/W/24/Add.7
Page 3
5. For those Parties who use databases which list government procurement opportunities:
(i) What are the names of their databases?
The names of the databases are Government Internet Tendering Information System (GITIS)
and Mindef Internet Procurement System (MIPS).
(ii) How long have the databases been operational and how many suppliers use the
databases?
GITIS was first introduced in May 1997.  As the system is accessible to anyone, it is not
possible to determine the supplier population.
MIPS was introduced in April 1998.  Since the system is accessible to anyone, it is not
possible to determine the number of suppliers who use the system.
(iii) Is a fee charged to suppliers using the systems?  If so, how much, and what is
included in the fee?
There is no charge for access to GITIS and MIPS.  The charges for suppliers who wish to
transact electronically are for the cost of the smart-card and related administrative charges, which
amount to less than S$100.00.
(iv) Can suppliers obtain tender documentation electronically?  If so, how?
GITIS and MIPS provide for downloading of tender documents.  Standard terms and
conditions of tender and contract information can also be downloaded from the web page.  Most
downloadable documents are in Word format.
(v) How is information on the databases organized?Information in the databases is stored in defined fields and text format.  Both GITIS and
MIPS provide pre-defined as well as user-definable search criteria for displaying the information.
(vi) Do the databases offer any other features?
GITIS provides links to other governments and international procurement web sites, such as
the WTO and APEC home pages.
(vii) What is the approximate number of procurement opportunities listed on the databases
annually?
The number of tenders and procurement opportunities is roughly 4,000, which covers all
government tenders, both GPA and non-GPA covered.
(viii) Are the systems managed by the government or a private company?The systems are managed by the overnment.
(ix) Can Parties' databases be interrogated using international standards, such as SQL
Standard Query Language?
The database can be queried using SQL Standard Query Language.GPA/W/24/Add.7
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(x) Are all notices which are required to be published under Articles IX and XVIII:1 of
the Agreement - for entities in Annexes 1, 2 and 3 - also available on databases?  If
so, do such notices contain at least the minimum information required to be published
under Articles IX and XVIII:1?
GITIS and MIPS are designed to capture as much procurement information as possible,
including all the minimum information required to be published under Articles IX and XVIII:1;  as
well as non-GPA covered procurement information.
(xi) How are Agreement-covered notices identified?
Every procurement notice includes a line indicating the applicability of the GPA.
(xii) To what extent does each type of notice contained in databases conform to a standard
structure?
The input forms used to post tender informati on are centrally maintained.  Hence, all tender
notices follow the stipulated format and structure.
(xiii) Is any particular classification used in such notices to describe purchases and, if so,
which classification?
Product and services classification follow international classifications such as ISO standards,
where possible and practical.
(xiv) Where databases exist in a non-WTO language, to what extent are notices and
information summarized in a WTO language?
All notices and information are provided in English.
6. For those Parties who are involved in action in the area of electronic commerce:
(i) Please provide full information on projects and plans with regard to electronic
commerce.
See point 1 above.
(ii) Could those parties who have experience with electronic commerce provide
information on such experiences.
N.A.
__________