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FTAA.nggp/inf/50
August 12, 2003

Original: Spanish
Translation: FTAA Secretariat

FTAA – NEGOTIATING GROUP ON GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT

CARICOM

SUBMISSION TO THE HEMISPHERIC COOPERATION PROGRAM
THROUGH THE
FTAA – NEGOTIATING GROUP ON GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT:
REQUEST FOR TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE IN THE PREPARATION
OF A MARKET ACCESS OFFER IN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
 


Introduction

CARICOM requests technical assistance in the preparation of its market access offer in Government Procurement. 
  1. Background

    CARICOM States have never been party to regional and/or international government procurement agreements. The discipline is new to the region and, as such, there is no expertise upon which to draw to prepare the relevant offer. Additionally, due to critical resource constraints, CARICOM has been unable to gather and assimilate region-wide procurement statistics to form critical supporting data and inform the preparation efforts. We understand that in some States, this data is neither stored nor recorded, in others it is recorded but not stored for any significant periods of time, and still in others only partial data is available, i.e., data relative to central government entities only. Further, there is need to identify the “sensitive” sectors in each of our economies and to take these into account in developing offers.

  2. Justification

    In light of the background information presented, CARICOM needs assistance in identifying the relevant input data, gathering this data throughout the region and preparing an offer based upon the information gleaned from the data gathered. This will likely require consultations with both private sector and public sector entities throughout the region, which our limited resources cannot facilitate. Further, having gathered the relevant data, and conducted the necessary analyses, due to the lack of experience in this area, CARICOM would also need assistance in formulating the offer, i.e., presentation, style, etc. 

  3. Objectives of the Project

    1. The primary output is the development and preparation of a market access offer in Government Procurement.
       
    2. Other outputs would include the necessary preparatory work (i.e., data gathering, consultations, analyses, and required approvals.

  4. Inputs1

    At present, while the basic information may be available throughout the region, it is not gathered, compiled and analysed. As such, each CARICOM State will need to provide procurement statistics, specifically for the years 1998-2000, and other information relevant to its sensitive sectors, national developmental policies, etc. Unfortunately, information on the region as a whole is not currently available.
     
  5. Expected Results

    It is expected that the project output will be a CARICOM market access offer in government procurement that is representative of CARICOM’s special treatment needs due to small size and level of development, takes into account the various national developmental policies, and the concerns and considerations of regional suppliers. The FTAA TNC afforded CARICOM an extended deadline of July 2003 for submission of its offer, with the stipulation that no delegation will be made privy to other offers without first submitting its own offer. As a result, CARICOM would want to submit its market access offer as close to the general deadline of December 15, 2002 as possible in order to be able to participate meaningfully in the discussions of offers and requests for improved offers processes.
     
  6. Other Relevant Information

    We would expect that any technical assistance provided in this regard would be coordinated with the full knowledge and/or participation of the CARICOM Lead and Alternate Negotiators for Government Procurement, who may be able to offer relevant advice, and that they would be kept fully abreast of processes, findings and conclusions.  


Note: In the event that two or more project profiles are proposed, please present in order of priority.

1 If information is available.
 
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