15 May Analysis and recommendations for improving the work of the Public Procurement Office: Digitalization and new hiring necessary

Belgrade, Mаy 15, 2019 – It is necessary to continue improving the communication channels through which the Public Procurement Office establishes and maintains relations with the interested public, especially in the field of digitalization, but also through optimizing labour, and increasing efficiency and efficacy of labour. In addition to that, one of the main recommendations is the hiring of new personnel in order to remedy the shortage of human resources, which reaches up to 50% in certain areas, it is written in the report prepared by the Project, which contains recommendations for improvements related to communications with the interested public and the organizational structures of the Public Procurement Office regarding the implementation of the new Public Procurement Law.

Communication channels

There are several communication channels through which the Public Procurement Office performs legal consultations, informs the public about public procurements, announces models and decisions from the Office’s jurisdiction. It was concluded that is necessary to extend business hours at the Call Centre, in which multiple lines are used for communication, as well as to introduce e-mail communication, to mitigate the pressure on the Call Centre.

In addition to that, the Office publishes official opinions and interpretations of regulations at the official internet page of the Office www.ujn.gov.rs, and publishes information through the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, as well as models of documents and video tutorials for using the Public Procurement Portal. The majority of the documents are published at the Public Procurement Portal, which is one of the Office’s communication channels. As many as 150 opinions published monthly contribute to a clearer and more transparent procedure, with the bidders being better informed.

Preparations for the implementation of the new Public Procurement Law  

Having in mind that the implementation of the new Public Procurement Law has been scheduled for January 2020, the report included an analysis of the work of the Office in terms of entrusted duties from the new legislation, which shall include greater competencies of the Office, and which will directly reflect on certain organizational units.

The biggest obstacle the Office is facing is the number of staff in certain jobs. In regard to that, proposals have been made for improving and achieving the end goal, which was established to be the optimization of labour and increasing the efficiency and efficacy of labour as per the new Public Procurements Law. One of the main recommendations is maximum utilization of the Office in finding and hiring personnel with adequate expertise and know-how.

In the report it was written that the communication of the Office with the interested public and other duties are performed with the highest possible level of quality and efficiency, having in mind all the limitations described and analysed.

Download report here.