Professor ZHAO Yong, University of International Relations – Beijing – New Text on U.S. “Green” Procurement

An Analysis of American Governance through the U. S. Federal Government’s Green Procurement System

ZHAO Yong, University of International Relations, Beijing, email: yongjao@hotmail.com

(Text is in Mandarin, and available from the author)

[Abstract]

The formation of the green procurement system of the U. S. Federal Government is complex, the influence factors being numerous and the contents being comprehensive. This dissertation aims to provide a reference for the improvement of China’s government procurement system through exploring the cause, contents, features and evolution of the American green procurement system. Furthermore, by in-depth studying the American green procurement system as a breakthrough point so as to analyse the social problem conduction mechanism, interest distribution mechanism and the power allocation mechanism of the U. S. Federal Government, this dissertation tried to discover the characteristics and means of the American governance, promote transforming the mode of China’s Governance and enhance Chinese Governments’ ability of governance and solving the practical problems of the current Chinese society.

After the World War II, the rapid development of American economy aggravated the degree of environment deterioration. An endless stream of environmental incidents and the enhancement of environmental awareness have promoted the awakening of public environmental interests. With the help of environmental organizations and research institutions, the public environmental interests can be effectively expressed, which prompted the politicians to address environmental issues into the political agenda. Then the environmental policies were shaped after the multi-player game. From 1960’s, the importance of environmental policy in the United States has been rising, with the changing of its connotation and the value orientation. In the same period, the Federal Government’s procurement policy stepped into the policy-stage after the liberalization-stage and the standardization-stage. The the overlap of the dense introduction stage of environmental policies and the policy-period of government procurement formed the basis for establishing green procurement laws and actions.

In the process of the formation of the environmental legislation system in America, the macro path is the self-generation and the micro path is bargaining. Citizens, environmental protection organizations, interest groups, administrative agencies, the sub-committees of the Congress and other parties in the process of the legislation played different roles. The development of the governance system is embodied in the progressive development path, during which the interests’ equilibrium of the participating parties in the evolution has been reached. Through environmental legislation, the federal government expanded its powers. In the aspect of government procurement, the laws were becoming more and more plentiful. The objectives were increasingly rich. The maturity of the procurement system makes it possible to combine the the social-economic laws and the procurement laws.

Due to the vast scale of government procurement, the multiplier effect and the little political resistance, the executive branch of the Federal Government launched a series of green procurement programs based on environmental legislation and procurement legislation. By studying the green procurement programs with different legal bases, various objects and goals, diversified implementation bodies and multiple challenges, we could recognize the complexity of governance of the environmental problems.

In order to achieve the objectives of environmental governance, it is necessary to transform the policies, laws and programs into government procurement activities by the contracting officers’ and suppliers’ behavior. The contracting officer will, under the guidance of the policy, laws and the green procurement programs, weigh a variety of the procurement factors and the environmental factors, formulate the green procurement plans and implement green procurement through a variety of procurement tools. Finally, the green governance on the supplier was achieved through the government contract. During the process, the Federal administrative agencies, the Congress, the courts, and the public oversight or supervise the procurement in different forms.

From China’s perspective, the enlightenment of the U. S. Federal Governments’ green procurement system and the governance mode is: it is necessary to establish and improve the environmental problems transmission mechanism and a balanced interest distribution mechanism; to advance green procurement programs cautiously; to actively participate in the GPA negotiation; and to react the climate change negotiations carefully.

[Keywords] U. S. Federal Government, Green Procurement, Governance

“Modern Ghana” Posting on the World Bank’s New Procurement Framework — Now Effective

New World Bank Procurement Framework Promotes Strengthened National Procurement Systems

By World Bank

Flexible approach will help countries make the best use of public spending

The World Bank’s new Procurement Framework becomes effective tomorrow, July 1, 2016. Aimed at helping countries make the best use of their public spending, the new Framework will enhance the strategic role of procurement in development effectiveness.

“The new Procurement Framework reflects the views, knowledge, and expertise of a wide range of stakeholders from across the globe. The Bank can now offer a more modern and nimble procurement system to help promote sustainable development,” said Hart Schafer, World Bank Vice President for Operations Policy and Country Services .

The new Procurement Framework will allow the World Bank to better respond to the needs of client countries, while preserving robust procurement standards throughout Bank-supported projects. It provides an expanded range of procurement tools to enable a better fit for varying country contexts and client needs.

“With this modernization of the procurement system, the Bank looks forward to working together with its partner countries to strengthen efficiency in public spending and to strengthen procurement systems around the world. This will help assure that public resources are being well used, and countries can better deliver critical services such as education, health, and infrastructure” says Deborah Wetzel, Senior Director of the Governance Global Practice .

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors initially approved this new policy framework in July 2015. It governs procurement in Bank-financed projects in 172 countries worth about USD 56 billion. This new Framework is a result of an extensive review and three-year consultation process involving over 5,000 people in 100 countries including partner countries, CSOs, and private sector.

“Reflecting the latest thinking in procurement, including greater use of technology, the new Framework emphasizes greater choice and flexibility, quality, and accountability while enabling greater adaptation to country contexts,” said Robert Hunja, Director, Governance Global Practice .

The new Framework enables the Bank to work more closely with country partners in improving their own procurement systems. Furthermore, under this framework, clients can use the procurement arrangements of other multilateral development partners or of national agencies in some circumstances.

The new Framework will introduce an ICT based tracking and monitoring tool Systematic Tracking of Exchanges in Procurement (STEP) to make procurement processes speedier, while promoting transparency and accountability. The Bank will also step up its approach to resolving procurement related complaints.

http://www.modernghana.com/news/703203/new-world-bank-procurement-framework-promotes-strengthened-n.html?

Jean Grier on “TTIP Procurement Data Debate: Time to Conclude”

TTIP Procurement Data Debate: Time to Conclude?

An interesting comment by Jean Grier on the ongoing EU-U.S. debate over procurement trade data, and the impact that debate is having on TTIP negotiations. Ms. Grier was previously the lead negotiator on procurement for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and is an internationally recognized expert on procurement and trade.

International Conference on Public Procurement Law – Africa – Nov. 24-25, 2016

2ND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW AFRICA ANNOUNCED

The African Public Procurement Regulation Research Unit (APPRRU), Faculty of Law, Stellenbosch University, is pleased to announce the second International Conference on Public Procurement Law Africa. The Conference will be held from 24 – 25 November, 2016 at the Century City Conference Centre & Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa. The Conference theme is Public Procurement Regulation suited for 21^st Century Africa: Reform, Governance and Innovation. The theme will address a range of critically important issues and themes relating to the intersection between procurement regulation, governance, reform, and innovation. Plenary speakers include some of the leading thinkers in public procurement in Africa and internationally, and the conference will feature numerous papers, and workshop presentations. More detail on the conference, including the call for papers, can be found at www.africanprocurementlaw.org/projects/conference2016.