Article 9 Public procurement and management of public finances

1.

a)

The public distribution of information relating to procurement procedures and contracts, including information on invitations to tender and relevant or pertinent information on the award of contracts, allowing potential tenderers sufficient time to prepare and submit their tenders;

b)

The establishment, in advance, of conditions for participation, including selection and award criteria and tendering rules, and their publication;

c)

The use of objective and predetermined criteria for public procurement decisions, in order to facilitate the subsequent verification of the correct application of the rules or procedures;

d)

An effective system of domestic review, including an effective system of appeal, to ensure legal recourse and remedies in the event that the rules or procedures established pursuant to this paragraph are not followed;

e)

Where appropriate, measures to regulate matters regarding personnel responsible for procurement, such as declaration of interest in particular public procurements, screening procedures and training requirements.

2.

a)

Procedures for the adoption of the national budget;

b)

Timely reporting on revenue and expenditure;

c)

A system of accounting and auditing standards and related oversight;

d)

Effective and efficient systems of risk management and internal control; and

e)

Where appropriate, corrective action in the case of failure to comply with the requirements established in this paragraph.

3.