./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/WGTGP/W/34
30 September 2002
(02-5216)
Working Group on Transparency
in Government ProcurementOriginal:  English
CAPACITY-BUILDING CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO TRANSPARENCY
IN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Communication from the United States
The following communication, dated 26 September 2002, has been received from the
Permanent Mission of the United States with the request that it be distributed to all Members.
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1. The Doha Ministerial Declaration recognized the importance of capacity-building in relation
to transparency in government procurement "both du ring the negotiations and after their conclusion".
This underscores the importance of understanding the practical implications of building specific
elements of transparency into a procurement system.  That has been, and will continue to be, a central
focus of the Working Group.
2. In response to the Doha Declaration, the WTO Secretariat is offering a Symposium on
Transparency in Government Procurement on 9-10 October 2002.  The Symposium offers an
excellent opportunity for Members to consider the practical implications of building transparency intotheir procurement systems.  These are issues that all Members have to face in developing their
procurement systems.
3. The United States looks forward to participating in the WTO Symposium, and hopes that
Members will take advantage of the opportunity that it offers to consider questions such as the
following:
Assessing the Benefits of a Transparent Procurement System
- Who benefits from a transparent procurement system?  Domestic suppliers?  Foreign
suppliers?  Governments?  Citizens?
- How can building transparency into a procurement system contribute to a Member's
development?
- Can the benefits of a transparent procurement system be measured?  Are the benefits
tangible?
- Why are transparent procurement systems relevant to the WTO's work?WT/WGTGP/W/34
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- Is there a relationship between increased transparency and increased competition?
Transparency of Procurement Rules and Procedures
- What models would be the most useful to foll ow in developing a transparency procurement
system?  What steps need to be taken to adapt a model such as the UNCITRAL Model Law toa Member's procurement system?
- Would it be more burdensome for a Member to make all of its procurement system
transparent or only parts of its system?
- What kind of information do suppliers need on a Member's government procurement
framework?
- How can governments efficiently ensure that they provide the same information on a
procurement to all interested suppliers?
Information on Specific Procurements
- What are efficient and cost effective ways to make information on procurement opportunities
public?
- How much information needs to be made publi c?  When and to whom should the information
be disclosed?
- If a procurement is closed to foreign suppliers or preferences are given to domestic suppliers,
should the procurement be made public?  If so, why?  What are the ramifications if such
procurements are not made public?
- Is it necessary to provide suppliers with information as to why they did not win a tender?
- What kind of records should be maintained with respect to particular procurements?  How
long should such records be kept?  Who should have access to them?
- If suppliers believe that they have been denied information on a procurement, should they
have access to an appeal or review body?  What should be the role of such a body?
- How would establishment of domestic revi ew procedures help ensure procurement
transparency?
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