Preparation of Standard Bidding Documents & Standard Contract Forms IDF Grant The aim of the IDF financing is to help the Government of Poland in preparation of  Standard Documents comprising: Standard Pre-qualification, Standard Bidding Documents and Standard Contract Forms to be used by public procuring entities and bidders. Description of Activities The Activities include (i) preparation of the Standard Pre-qualification, Standard Bidding Documents and  Standard Contract Forms (Standard Documents), the guidelines for their use, and the procurement procedures to be followed - under the auspices of the Public Procurement Office (PPO); (ii) dissemination of the  Standard Documents to procuring entities throughout the country, which would in turn disseminate them to the bidders participating in procurement proceedings; (iii) training in the use of the Standard Documents; and (iv) recommendations on amendments (if any) to the Act on Public Procurement that may be necessary for the use of the Standard Documents. These Standard Documents, which will be based on the provisions of the Polish Act on Public Procurement, will enable procuring entities to implement the law effectively and will prevent use of different standard forms as well as duplication of efforts. The Bidding Documents shall be prepared by national and international, individual or institutional, experienced  consultants, selected following the World Bank selection procedures. The consultants qualification criteria will include their knowledge and practice in use of Standard Documents of international institutions such as the World Bank or FIDIC so that the output of their services reflects the best practice of other procurement systems, and their knowledge of the Polish procurement related legislation to accommodate the international experience. As a result of preparation of the Standard Documents the Consultants shall be required to define and propose amendments of the Act on Public Procurement to enable the adoption of these Documents for public procurement. The consultants shall also be required to provide training to concerned entities on the use of these documents. Consultants shall also be employed to carry out workshops. Dissemination of the Standard Documents shall be conducted through the following means: posting on the PPO web site, printing and distribution to associations, commercial and other concerned procuring entities. Benefits The introduction of Standard Documents will: - Allow procuring entities to draw from a wide national and international experience in procurement, - Expedite preparation of the procurement process, - Make more effective use of resources during bidding preparation, - Avert mistakes which may both expose procuring entities to additional costs and delay of the investment process as well, - Invoke better discipline within the procuring entities, - Result in less procurement cancellations due to formal and procedural reasons, - Contribute to development of procurement staff and improvement of procurement capacity, - Gradually improve bidders credibility and response and will result in better prices as they become used to them and spend less time and resources on bid preparation. Through the above Project implementation will result in: - better economy and efficiency of projects implementation, -  improved transparency and fairness of the procurement process. Expected outcome The following outcome is expected under the grant funded project: - Pre-qualification standard forms (article 23 of the Act), - Standard Bidding Documents for:    ,,goods,    ,,works,    ,,computers and information systems,    ,,smaller contracts (less then 30, 000 Euro),    ,,services,    ,,Services following Performance Contracting Principles. - standard forms of contracts, - Guidance materials for use of above mentioned documents, - Recommendations on amendment to Public Procurement Law. The performance measures for the proposed activity is the adoption of the Standard Documents and other deliverables (as described above) by PPO and number of firms and trainees trained for use of the Standard Documents. Sustainability: The Standard Documents shall be initially disseminated among stakeholders under the proposed IDF financed Project. Thereafter, PPO shall maintain a website from which all interested parties will be able to download these documents. PPO shall also provide follow up consultation with various stakeholders to assess experience and lessons learned during the first year (s) use of these documents and propose modifications to the Documents or the Act as deemed necessary in light of experience. Relationship of Grant Proposal with Country Economic and Sector Work (or Business Plan) The Country Procurement Assessment Report identified a need for Standard Bidding Documents to enhance economy, efficiency and transparency of procurement process. Similar suggestions were included in the Report Â“Corruption in PolandÂ” that became a basis for the prepared ESW anti-corruption Activity in Poland. Results of the IDF-financed Project will contribute to this Activity through enhancing transparency and fairness in procurement process. The Project is fully consistent with both the 1999 Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) update as well as with the draft new CAS preliminary document. Government Agency Responsible for Execution  The Public Procurement Office (PPO) shall be responsible for implementation of the Project. PPO shall assign a Project Leader to lead the Project activities. PPO shall set up an  Advisory Committee comprising experts on public procurement and representing different stakeholders. The Committee shall provide its opinion and comments on the outcome provided by the Consultants to the Project Leader. Government Contribution (Cash or In-Kind) The Government contribution shall be 50,000 USD, of which 30,000 USD in cash to cover PPOs costs for dissemination  of results, printing and distribution, arrangements for stakeholder meetings, dissemination and other workshops, additional consulting costs that may be needed to achieve the Project objective, translation. In-kind contribution shall include provision of the office facilities for the consultants, necessary transportation and office services. Other Comments  Introduction of Standard Documents will allow to transfer international experience and contribute to harmonization of procurement system with the European law and practice. It will also allow for a dialogue with the World Bank to develop procurement system consistent with international standards. Preliminary Timetable: -   Approval of IDF proposal by the World Bank,,,,,,,,January 2002 -   IDF agreement with the Government,,,,,,,,,,May 2002 -   Selection of Consultants,,,,,,,,,,,,July 2002 -   Preparation of the Standard Documents, guidelines and recommendations    Draft,,,,,,,,,,,,,,December 2002    ,,Consultation,,,,,,,,,,,,April 2003    ,,Revision and acceptance,,,,,,,,,,June 2003 -   Dissemination of results,,,,,,,,,,,,July - September 2003 -   Training and workshops,,,,,,,,,,,,July - October 2003  Modality of Execution Established on the basis of the Act on Public Procurement the Public Procurement Office (PPO) plays a policy making and a coordinating role for the Polish public procurement system. It will be the Implementing Agency for the Project.