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Rafiq Hariri International Airport Terminal Contracting – Public Procurement Strategy
Civil Society Coalition Urges Ministry of Public Works and Transportation to Abide by Public Procurement Law Regarding Airport Terminal Procurement and Operation Contract
Effort Overview:
Under the framework of monitoring the compliance and implementation of public institutions with the clauses of the Public Procurement Law, multiple civil society organizations flagged violations in the subcontracting process conducted by the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation regarding the construction and operation of a new airport terminal; the civil society organizations particularly pointed out to a violation to the 1st and 5th clauses of Article 3 of the Public Procurement Law No. 244/2021 that govern the subcontracting process between the public and private sector.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transportation bypassed the legal clauses through direct procurement, disregarding the obligation of soliciting more quotations from the private sector regarding the construction and operation of the planned airport terminal.
The involved organizations pressured the Lebanese Government to implement the articles of the Public Procurement Law in all public institutions while highlighting the particular flagrant violation in the airport terminal case. The organizations also urged the head of the Public Procurement Authority to immediately act upon the violations given the Authority's oversight over the procurement processes.
Overriding the Public Procurement Law through direct contracting impeded inclusiveness and fair competition, making procurement processes deviate from international best practices which opens up the possibility for corrupt practices and hinders transparency in public procurement.
Partnerships:
Key/Lead CSO(s): ALEF - Act for Human Rights, LCPS - The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, ALDIC - the Lebanese Association for Taxpayers' Rights, TILB - Transparency International - Lebanon, the Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB), RDCL - Lebanese Business Leaders Association , KullunaIrada , SEEDS for Legal Initiatives, LUPD - Lebanese Union for People with Physical Disabilities
Progress and Achievements:
- Current Status: Implementation of Public Procurement Process in Public Tendering and Contracting Achieved.
- Major Milestones Achieved: Following the pressure exerted by the involved civil society organizations, private sector actors, and the Public Procurement Authority, Prime Minister Najib Mikati halted the contracting process and the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation backtracked the planned expansion.
Contact Information
· Transparency International Lebanon
o Transparency@transparency-lebanon.org
o 70035777