Head of Gov’t Administration: new electronic Market Research System eliminates corruption risks between suppliers, procurers

Levan Zhorzholiani, the Head of the Government Administration, said the new electronic Market Research System, created as part of the Government’s ongoing anti-corruption reforms, would prevent corrupt dealings between suppliers and procuring entities.

Zhorzholiani added the platform “virtually eliminates any possibility of collusion or manipulation at the market research stage”, ensuring fair pricing and transparency in public procurement.

“Market research is the first and most crucial stage of any state procurement. Conducting it fairly and accurately determines whether tenders and subsequent purchases will be carried out at just and market-based prices”, Zhorzholiani said.

He noted that the Government was also establishing a Centralised Procurement Agency, which would be responsible for large-scale state procurements. The Agency will be staffed with “honest and professional personnel”, and while public entities will be allowed to make smaller purchases independently, larger procurements will be managed centrally.

“Starting early next year, all contracting authorities will be legally required to use the MRS platform for market research. The system ensures the protection of commercial secrets and personal data and we are developing an online Q&A module that will allow interaction between procurers and companies, further increasing transparency.

“If, despite these safeguards, any collusion or malpractice occurs between contracting parties, this system will make detection much easier for law enforcement. Everything will be fully visible and traceable. The MRS system prevents any pre-contract manipulations that could distort fair competition or pricing in tenders”, Zhorzholiani said.