Source: http://bpp.worldbank.org/en/data/exploreeconomies/tunisia/2017
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 06:46:24+00:00

Document:
The PPP specific law in Tunisia is: Law n. 2015-49 dated 27 November 2015 related to contracts between the public and the private sector (PPP) and published in the Official gazette dated 1st December 2015 (Hereinafter the PPP Law). The implementing decrees are the following: - Decree No. 2016-771 of 20 June 2016, about the composition and prerogatives of the Strategic Council for Public Private Partnership - Decree No. 2016-772 of 20 June 2016, about the conditions and procedures for the award of public-private partnership contracts. - Decree No. 2016-1104 of 4 July 2016 fixing the conditions and procedures for determining the consideration paid by the public party to the project company and determining the terms and conditions for the assignment or Pledging of receivables under public-private partnership contracts. - Decree No. 2016-1185 of 14 October 2016, laying down the organization and powers of the general public-private partnership. Additionally, Decree No. 2014-1039 covers both PPPs and concession contracts. Although PPP and Concession contracts are both governed by the same Unit (l'Instance nationale des PPP), this new law still coexist with the previous concession laws: In fact, PPP in Tunisia was previously governed by Law No. 2008-23 dated on April 1st 2008 relating to the concessions regime (referred to as the "Concessions Law"). Based on such law, decrees were enacted in order to describe the Concessions procedures and regime: (i) the Concession Procurement Decree No. 2010-1753 of July 19, 2010 setting the conditions and procedures of grant of the concessions complemented by Decree No. 2013-4631; (ii) Decree n 2008-2965 dated 8 September 2008, on the establishment of a unit in charge of the follow-up on concessions, (iii) Decree No. 2013-4631 amending Decree No. 2010-1753, and (iv) Decree No 2013-4630 of November 18, 2013 creating the Concessions Follow-up Unit within the Government Presidency (Unité de Suivi des Concessions au sein de la Présidence du Gouvernement), that substituted and repealed the original Decree No. 2008-2965 of September 8, 2008, creating the Concessions Follow-up Unit.
The PPP specific law in Tunisia is: Law n. 2015-49 dated 27 November 2015 related to contracts between the public and the private sector (PPP) and published in the Official gazette dated 1st December 2015 (Hereinafter the PPP Law).
- Decree No. 2016-772 of 20 June 2016, about the conditions and procedures for the award of public-private partnership contracts.
- Decree No. 2016-1104 of 4 July 2016 fixing the conditions and procedures for determining the consideration paid by the public party to the project company and determining the terms and conditions for the assignment or Pledging of receivables under public-private partnership contracts.
- Decree No. 2016-1185 of 14 October 2016, laying down the organization and powers of the general public-private partnership.
Additionally, Decree No. 2014-1039 covers both PPPs and concession contracts. Although PPP and Concession contracts are both governed by the same Unit (l'Instance nationale des PPP), this new law still coexist with the previous concession laws: In fact, PPP in Tunisia was previously governed by Law No. 2008-23 dated on April 1st 2008 relating to the concessions regime (referred to as the "Concessions Law"). Based on such law, decrees were enacted in order to describe the Concessions procedures and regime: (i) the Concession Procurement Decree No. 2010-1753 of July 19, 2010 setting the conditions and procedures of grant of the concessions complemented by Decree No. 2013-4631; (ii) Decree n 2008-2965 dated 8 September 2008, on the establishment of a unit in charge of the follow-up on concessions, (iii) Decree No. 2013-4631 amending Decree No. 2010-1753, and (iv) Decree No 2013-4630 of November 18, 2013 creating the Concessions Follow-up Unit within the Government Presidency (Unité de Suivi des Concessions au sein de la Présidence du Gouvernement), that substituted and repealed the original Decree No. 2008-2965 of September 8, 2008, creating the Concessions Follow-up Unit.
2. Decree No. 2016-772 of 20 June 2016, laying down the conditions and procedures for the award of public-private partnership contracts.
4. Decree No. 2016-1104 of 4 July 2016 concerning the fixing of the conditions and procedures for determining the consideration paid by the public entity to the project company and determining the terms and conditions for the assignment or Pledging of receivables under public-private partnership contracts.
5. Decree No. 2016-1185 of 14 October 2016, laying down the organization and powers of the general public-private partnership body.
(1) Art. 6 of Decree No. 2016-1185 of October 14, 2016: »The control and monitoring unit of public-private partnership contracts is responsible for studying and issuing a preliminary opinion on: - the preliminary study and the form description justifying the use of the method of partnership contract, - the reports on the recounting of technical and financial offers, - the statement of reasons justifying the use of direct negotiation for the conclusion of a partnership contract, - the reports statement of reasons justifying the use of the competitive dialogue for the conclusion of a partnership contract, - draft partnership contracts to be concluded in accordance with law n ° 2015-49 of 27 November 2015, on public partnership contracts private, - draft annexes to partnership contracts. "
- establish a general annual census of concession contracts and partnership contracts.
A General Commission is set-up with the Prime ministry which reviews the documentation and assists the public entity entering in a PPP by providing technical support and help in the preparation of partnership contracts (as well as for the conclusion and the implementation of such contracts). The General Commission gives a binding opinion regarding the PPP project.
Articles 7 of the PPP law No. 49-2015 provides that: "For a project intended to be carried out in the form of a partnership contract, the public authority is required to study the various legal, economic, financial, social and technical aspects. Furthermore, it should provide evidence that the environmental impacts justify the recourse to this form of contract, (instead of other contractual forms available) ... The study is presented to the General PPP Committee (referred to in Art. 38), with a description of the project. The opinion given by the Committee must be reasoned and motivated. If approval is given, the evaluation (referred to in the second paragraph of the article) is submitted for the approval of the Minister of finance, whose opinion will be motivated.
Article 19al1 of the PPP law 49-2015 provides that the PPP contract is presented to the General Commission before its signature in order to express an opinion confirming that of the procuring authority, no later than one month from the date of presentation .
According to Article 32 of the PPP Law, besides the control operations that could be indicated in the PPP contract, the procuring authority has to complete, among other operations, the designation (if need be), of specialized and independent experts in order to control the execution of the contract. Furthermore, Article 38.3 of the PPP Law provides that the commission can be assisted by experts (or expert offices), within the framework of its missions, according to the principles of transparency, competition, equal opportunities and in accordance with procedures established by government decree.
If yes, please specify and provide the relevant legal/regulatory provisions (if any): The PPP projects are intended to be included in the national investment and development strategy.
The PPP projects are intended to be included in the national investment and development strategy.
The article 4 of the PPP law states that the projects to be concluded under the PPP form must comply with the needs of the public entities previously set according to the national and local priorities and to the goals set by the development plan.
The PPP projects under the new specific PPP legal framework, are being prioritized in practice, in accordance with the provisions of the regulatory framework in Tunisia.
Article 7 of the PPP Law No. 49-2015 provides that: The procuring authority should subject the PPP project to a study of the legal , economic, financial , social and technical aspects, as well as to an environmental influence study in order to justify the choice of the PPP model over other contractual forms.
Article 7al 2 of the law 49-2015 provides that the procuring authority must prepare an assessment study of the effects of completion of the PPP project on the public balance, as well as on the financial situation of the public person and the availability of appropriations necessary to accomplish the project .
Art. 5 of the decree n ° 2016-772 of June 20th, 2016 provides: "The procuring authority must prepare a study of evaluation of the impacts of the realization of the project in the form of partnership contract on the public budget, the financial situation of the public person and the availability of program credits for its implementation and the evaluation of its own ability to finance the project throughout the duration of the contract. In addition, this study must include a statement on the essential data on the possible structure of the project financing, mentioning in particular the following elements: - an estimate of the overall cost of the project on the basis of an overall evaluation of the programming expenditure, design, financing, implementation or modification, maintenance and commissioning of the project for the public body and the private partner, highlighting its evolution throughout the contract, - an estimate of the ancillary fees if they have taken place and the possible remuneration that the public person will have to pay to the private partner. - an overall estimate of the discounting transaction based on the periods and percentages adopted, - an estimate of the net present value, for the transaction of expenditure under each contractual form for the public body. "
Art. 27 of the law n ° 2015-49 of November 27, 2015 provides that: "The partnership contract does not exempt the obtaining of all authorizations or to comply with the specifications in relation with its execution required under the legislation in force. "
Art. 3 decrees no. 2016-1104: "If the partnership agreement included an authorization to the project company to carry out and operate certain annexed activities related to the main project, it is necessary in this case to stipulate in the contract the expected revenues from its direct exploitation. and the rate going back to the public person of these revenues. "
Art. 25 of the law n ° 2015-49 of November 27th, 2015 provides that: "When the contract carries occupation of the public domain, it is worth authorization of occupation of this domain for its duration. The tenure, the related obligations and the rights deriving therefrom are governed by the stipulations of the partnership agreement and in accordance with the legislation in force. "
Art. 27 of the law n ° 2015-49 of November 27, 2015 provides that: "The partnership contract does not exempt the obtaining of all authorizations or to comply with the specifications in relation with its execution and exigible under the legislation in force. "
8. Senior Officer of the Unit for Monitoring and Follow-up of Partnership Contracts.
Article 10 of the Decree No. 2016-772 provides: "The general call for applications is published through the press or any other means of material or online and this twenty (20) days before the deadline for the receipt of applications".
Article 10 of the Decree No. 2016-772 provides that "The general call for applications is published through the press or any other means of material or online and this twenty (20) days before the deadline for the receipt of applications".
Article 8 of the Decree 2016-772 provides that: Partnership contracts are awarded by competitive bidding. They could also be awarded in exceptional cases through competitive dialogue or by direct negotiation in accordance with conditions set out in this Act.
The first phase includes a general call to application opened on the basis of a Regulation which precisely sets the conditions for the participation, methodology and criteria for pre-selection of candidates.
Article 14 b) of Decree N. 2016-772 provides that the tender documents should provide references such as conditions of participation, criteria and methodology of pre-selection.
Generally, the selection process is transparent and trustworthy, and therefore, the prequalification criteria specified in the tender documents shouls be respected in practice in Tunisia. However, according to some of our contributors, since the PPP contracts in their specific form as stated by the new PPP specific law are unprecented, there are no relevant track record that can be drawn yet.The process is still under elaboration.
Article 67 of the Public Procurement Decree No. 2014- provides that Control Commission must submit an evaluation report containing, among other things, the presentation of questions raised by participants about the content of the tender documents as well as any clarifications made to such documents Decree No. 2010-1753 provides in its Article 11 that the regulation of pre-qualification will specify "the conditions and deadlines available to the candidates to ask the clarifications on the pre-qualification process". Additionally, it provides in its Article 13, that the regulation of the invitation to tender will specify in particular "the method to be followed by the tenderers to present their comments and observations concerning the projects of contractual documents of the concession and their proposals for amendments as well as the method of notification of these proposals to the conceding party and the response of the latter".
Article 6 of the Public Procurement Decree provides that, among the principles to be followed, is informing the candidates by sharing the answers and clarifications to the observations and questions submitted by other candidates, at least ten days before the expiration of the deadline to receive offers. Furthermore, Article 3 of the Decree No. 2010-1753 provides: "In application of the principles mentioned in article 2 of the decree herein, it is advisable to comply with the rules of nondiscrimination between the candidates, of autonomy of the conceding parties, of adoption of clear, detailed and objective procedures of all the stages of grant of the concessions, of generalization of the communication of the answers and explanations to all the candidates, as for the requested observations and clarifications".
If no, please elaborate: The PPP Law and the Decree n 2016-772 mention only the requirement to submit the financial proposals.
The PPP Law and the Decree n 2016-772 mention only the requirement to submit the financial proposals.
There is no provision that expressly require the bidder to submit a financial model however such condition may be eventually required in the regulation of the invitation to tender.
Article 34 of the Decree 2016-772 provides that the commission responsible for the preparatory stages of the PPP call for tender (as created by article 25 of the same Decree) proceed to the assessment of the candidacies in compliance with the conditions and criteria set by Article 59 of the same Decree and mandatorily mentioned in the call for tender .
Furthermore, Article 13 of the Public Procurement Decree No. 2015-49 provides that the procuring authority should evaluate the proposals according to a predefined evaluation criteria stated in the tender documents (and it also adds specific criteria to be followed to select the best bid) Furthermore, Article 20 of the Decree No 2010-1753 provides that: " (...) Each special sub commission created in accordance with article 8 of the Decree herein analyzes the tenders while referring in the conditions and criteria fixed by the regulation of the invitation to tender (...)".
Article 16 of the PPP Law No. 2015-49 provides that the procuring authority should publish its decision to assign the PPP contract on the website of the concerned procuring authority (and an additional hardcopy publication should be made on designated boards in their respective spaces for eight days from the publication on the website).
Article 42.2 of decree N. 2016-772 provides that the procuring authority should inform the non selected candidates and indicate the notifs of their non-selection.
Article 49 of the Decree n 2016-772 provides that the procuring authority is bound to inform the non selected bidders.
In addition it must answer to any request for information addressed to it as specified in Article 50 of the Decree.
Furthermore (in Article 63 of the decree) the procuring authority must draft an extract of the granted PPP contract and address it to the IGPPP to be published on its website.
The mandatory information and the model of publication of such extract are set by Article 63 of the Decree 2016-772.
Article 63 of the Decree n 2016-772 provides that the procuring authority must draft an extract of the granted PPP contract and address it to the General Instance of PPP to be published on its website.
The mandatory information and the model of publication of such extract are set by the same Article.
- establish a general annual census of concession contracts and partnership contracts. The Synthesis, Monitoring and Audit Unit is headed by a cadre with the rank and benefits of the Director General of Central Administration.
the selection rules for tenders restricted by a pre-selection.
- draft annexes to concession contracts.
Article 12 of Government Decree No. 2016-1185 of 14 October 2016, setting out the organization and powers of the general public-private partnership authority, provides in paragraph 2 that the commission for the control and monitoring of concession contracts and partnership agreements "consists of the following members: - an administrative judge having the rank of advisor to the administrative tribunal, - a representative of the Presidency of the Government, - a representative of the Ministry of Finance, - a representative of the Ministry of Development and investment, - a representative of the ministry in charge of the equipment, - a representative of the central bank of Tunisia, - the first person in charge of the unit of control and follow-up of the contracts of concessions, - the first person in charge the control and monitoring unit of the partnership contracts. The members of the commission not belonging to the instance are appointed by order of the head of the government on proposal of the structures concerned, and for a period of 5 years renewable once, the renewal of the aforementioned members is carried out by half every 5 years. "
If yes, please provide the relevant legal/regulatory provisions (if any): Articles 31 and 32 of the Law N. 2015-49 provide for the control of execution of partnership contracts.
Articles 31 and 32 of the Law N. 2015-49 provide for the control of execution of partnership contracts.
Art. 31 provides the following: The project company is required to periodically communicate to the procuring authority all legal, accounting, financial and technical aspects of the project in accordance with the terms of the partnership contract, as well as technical studies, and the standards required by the public authority.
The project company is also required to submit an annual report determining the progress of the implementation of the project and the respect of society for the project commitments.
The project company should facilitate the tasks of control officers referred to in Article 32 of this Act.
-the monitoring of the company's compliance with the contractual conditions relating to subcontracting small and medium-sized enterprises, the use of domestic labor and the use of of domestic products. A report must be submitted presented to the national public partnership body private.
Article 31 al 1 of the PPP law 49-2015 provides that PPPCo should provide all the accounting and financial documents, required in the PPP contract, to the procuring authority on a regular basis on a regular basis. PPPCo should also submit any additional technical studies and examples and specifications that the public party might require. Additionally, Article 33 of the PPP law n 2015-49 mentions that besides the control of the administration that could be mentioned in the PPP contract, the administration must follow-up the bidder commitments and especially the activity reports mentioned in article 31 of the law, review the documents presented by the bidder, control the works on site, compliance with the provisions of the contract, appoint an expert for checking the project and present an annual report of the performance of the contract. This information is administrative information that is protected by confidentiality except for the Parliament and the Government.
According to Article 31 of the PPP Law,PPPCo must submit an annual report to the procuring authority showing the progress of the completion of the project and the fulfillment of the company's obligations. Furthermore, Article 32 of the Law provides that the procuring authority must make sure it receives the annual reports from PPPCo, study them and confirm thair accuracy.
Article 21 of the PPP law No. 49-2015 requires that any change of shareholding in the project company must be priorly approved by the regulatory authority.
Additionally, Art. 28 provides: The partnership contract may be transferred to third parties during its execution only after obtaining the prior written agreement of the public body and in accordance with the contractual conditions. The third party assignee of the contract must present all necessary legal, financial and technical guarantees which prove his capacity and ability to continue to perform the contract.
Article 28 of law n. 49-2015 provides that the third party assignee of the contract must present all necessary legal, financial and technical guarantees which prove his capacity and ability to continue the performance of the contract.
The article 62 of Decree n 2016-772 listing the mandatory clauses of the PPP contracts mentions between them the procedures of modification of the contract in course of execution.
 the selection rules for restricted invitations to tender preceded by a pre-selection.
Projets the draft annexes to the concession contracts.
The Concession Control and Monitoring Unit is headed by a senior executive with the rank and benefits of Chief Administrative Officer.
Article 17 al 2 of the PPP law No. 49-2015 provides that, as a general rule, the PPP Contract is not renewable, except in exceptional cases where an extension is needed to ensure the continuity of the public utility, or in case of force majeure, or upon the occurrence of unexpected events. In ant case, the extension cannot exceed a maximum period of 3 years, and it needs the approval of the General Authority for partnerships between the public and the private sector.
Article 17 al 2 of the PPP law No. 49-2015 provides that, as a general rule, the PPP Contract is not renewable, except in exceptional cases where an extension is needed to ensure the continuity of the public utility, or in case of force majeure, or upon the occurrence of unexpected events. In ant case, the extension cannot exceed a maximum period of 3 years, and it needs the approval of the General Authority for partnerships between the public and the private sector. In fact, Article 282 of the Tunisian Civil Code (code des obligations et des contrats) defines force majeure as "any fact that a human being cannot prevent such as natural phenomena, enemy invasion, Acts of Government and making impossible the performance of the obligation. Consequently, force majeure includes an adverse government action.
Article 22 of Law No. 2015-49 about the procedures established by the partnership contract, provides: - The project company must execute the contract directly. It can subcontract parts of its obligations, if the contract authorizes it, after obtaining the prior authorization of the public party. However, under no circumstances may the project company subcontract all or a majority of its obligations under the contract. In all cases, the project company remains directly liable to the public entity and third parties for the fulfillment of all obligations imposed on it by the contract.
Furthermore, Article 62 of the Decree n 2016-772 listing the mandatory clauses of the PPP contracts mentions that the procedures of outsourcing must be determined in the contract.
Article 30 of the PPP law No. 49-2015 requires the parties, in the case of a dispute resulting from the implementation of the PPP contract, to recourse to an amicable period for settlement where conciliary efforts should be made before resorting to the judiciary or to the arbitration. If the parties end up chosing the arbitration path, the contract has to state that the mandatory applicable law is the Tunisian law.
Article 33 of the Tunisian arbitration code provides: The arbitral award may be enforced spontaneously by the parties or executed by order of the president of the court of first instance within the jurisdiction where the award is made, ... However, if the dispute is pending before a court of appeal, then only the president of this court is competent to make the order of exequatur.
According to Article 36 of the PPP law No. 49-2015, the private partner would lose its right to the contract in case it defaults on its obligations and fails to fulfill them by the expiration of the notice period given by the public authority. In such case, the lenders are advised and they can propose a replacement to the private partner, that would need the approval of the procuring authority.
The PPP contract may be terminated by the will of parties before its term for various raisons: *the negligence of either contracting party; * the repurchase of the concession by the conceding party after expiry of a period determined in the contract. The principles effects of the PPP contract termination is meanly the return to the conceding part of the properties used by the concessionaire during the PPP execution. PPP Law No. 2015-49 provides: (1) in its Article 34, that the PPP contract is normally terminated by the end of the contract life. However, exceptionally, the contract can be terminated prematurely in circumstances provided for in Article 35: the PPP contract can be terminated by mutual agreement or for circumstances agreed upon in the contract. The procuring authority can unilaterally decide to terminate the contract if the private party committed a serious mistake, or if the public interest requires termination of the contract.
Article 55 of the decree No 2016-772 of june 20, 2016 provides that : "The private person can present a unsolicited proposal to the procuring authority for the realisation of a project in the context of a PPP contract….".
According to Article 7 of Law No. 2015-49: "The procuring authority is required to submit the partnership project, to study the various legal, economic, financial, social and technical aspects , the environmental impacts and the elements justifying its use in this form instead of other contractual forms.
The public entity is also required to draw up a study to evaluate the impact of the implementation of the project in the form of a partnership contract on the public budget, the financial situation of the public entity and the availability of appropriations for its production. The study provided for in the first paragraph of this Article shall be accompanied by a description of the project for the opinion of the general public private partnership referred to in Article 38 of this Law. The notice of the proceeding must be reasoned and binding. In the event of approval of the proceeding, the evaluation study referred to in the second paragraph of this Article shall be submitted to the Minister for Finance for advice. His opinion shall be motivated ".
- analysis of the risks associated with the project. And any other data allowing the evaluation of the spontaneous offer. Each unsolicited tender must be deposited at the office of the public authority against discharge or sent by registered post with acknowledgment of receipt or by rapid post.
Furthermore, Article 56 of the decree No 2016-772 provides that The procuring authority that receives an unsolicited proposal has to examine the possibility of carrying out the project which is the object of this offer, in the context of a PPP contract, from a legal, economic, financial and technical points of view.
Finally, Article 7 paragraph 2 of the PPP Law No. 49-2015 provides that the procuring authority has to elaborate a study of evaluation of project realisation impacts under the form of a partnership contract on the public budget, financial situation of the procuring authority, as well as the availability of necessary appropriations for its realisation.
And: Article 11 of Law No. 49-2015 provides that the unsolicited proposal must present a comprehensive study that will be reviewed by the procuring authority. The latter has the discretionnairy authority to accept or refute the unsolicited proposal.
Article 57 of the decree No. 2016-772 provides that "In case the unsocilicited proposal is accepted by the procuring authority, this proposal will be submitted to the article 7 of PPP Law No. 49-2015".
Article 7 paragraph 2 of the PPP Law No. 49-2015 provides that the procuring authority has to elaborate an evaluation study of the project realisation impacts -under the form of a partnership contract- on the public budget, the financial situation of the procuring authority, as well as the availability of necessary appropriations for its realisation.
Article 7 paragraph 4 of the PPP Law No. 49-2015 provides that "In case of approval by the general instance, the mentioned study at paragraph 2 must be submitted to the Minister of finance for opinion.
Article 11 al 6 of the PPP law No. 49-2015 provides that the procuring authority initiates a competitive PPP procurement procedure when proceeding with the unsolicited proposal . Additionally, Article 58 of the Decree No. 2016-772 provides that: "In the case of a call for tender for the conclusion of a partnership contract concerning the project which is the subject of the unsolicited proposal, the offeror of the unsolicitied proposal is granted a 2% margin of preference.

References: Art. 6
 Art. 38

Art. 5

Art. 27

Art. 3

Art. 25

Art. 27

Art. 31
 Art. 28