Implementation challenges of sustainability practice in public procurement in Bangladesh: role of CPTU

Abstract

Sustainable Procurement (SP) is one of the most vital criteria for achieving sustainable development. In sustainable procurement; economic, social and environmental sustainability are considered in taking any purchasing decision. Government takes lead role in total amount purchasing of any country in every year. Government has to procure various types of goods, works and services all the year round. The objectives of public procurement is to ensure economic development and welfare of the country rather than making profit like private sector. The volume of Public procurement is increasing every year. Government declares Annual development Programme (ADP) in each Fiscal year. To make ADP sustainable, effective public procurement is a pre-requisite. Public procurement is guided by principles of transparency, accountability and achieving value for money. The Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) is a permanent institution of Government of Bangladesh to carry out committed transparency, efficiency, fair competition and best value for money in public procurement process. The Public Procurement Act, 2006 and The Public Procurement Rule, 2008 were established and implemented by the active supervision of CPTU. CPTU is working with full of commitment to constitute an integrated procurement framework and guideline for procurers and bidders. Before the establishment of CPTU, there were no uniform guideline and set rules for procurement sector in Bangladesh. As an umbrella organization, CPTU has been working to ensure economy, efficiency, transparency, accountability, fairness and best value for money in whole process of procurement. Now CPTU is dedicated to achieve the criteria of sustainable procurement target of SDGs goal (Target 12.7) by 2030. This study tried to reveal the current practice regarding sustainable procurement in bidding procedure, and the role of CPTU. For that working process was- analyzing the Annual Reports, relevant project conducted by CPTU, interviews with procurement professionals and practitioners in public sector. This survey study indicates that, there are a few cases where procurement VII professionals & consultants working at CPTU are considering economic, social and environmental features of sustainability issues but these are not very common as a whole. Some recommendations are put forward based on primary and secondary data of this research. Although CPTU is trying to expand its mandate on implementing sustainability in public sector procurement in Bangladesh, sustainability criteria should be incorporated in STDs, PPA 2006 and PPR 2008 should be amended to address sustainable procurement issues more. Finally, there is an enormous opportunity to proceed further study on the sustainability in public procurement issue. Advanced research requires in order to acquiring an intense apprehension into the sustainable public procurement issue in relation to the role of CPTU in Bangladesh.