OPEN PROCUREMENTS

Utilizing Open Data
as a tool for greater Competition Participation

and Reforms in the Public Procurements

in the WB6 countries

Open Procurements Software
Utilizing Open Data as a tool for greater Competition Participation​

The project

The project will contribute to the improvement of participation, integrity, openness, and accessibility of the public procurement systems through the implementation of national comparative analyses for the use of open data in new potential tools that will increase mutual market participation and competitiveness at the level of the countries of the Western Balkans.

By conducting national comparative analyses of the public procurement systems in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia, from the aspect of accessibility and usability of open data, we will primarily prepare the conditions for the development of a regional tool whose purpose will be mutual market opening, improvement of market participation and increasing competitiveness, which will additionally affect the transparency and prevention of current corrupt mechanisms, cartel access and national monopolies.

By creating and regionally promoting the “Policy Brief” after the national comparative analyses, we will present the basic guidelines that will enable the countries of the Western Balkans to see mutual compatibilities that can accelerate the reforms of the opening, accessibility, and competitiveness of national markets.

Objective

The importance of public procurement in the Western Balkans represents between 8 and 11 per cent of gross domestic product, and in absolute values this amounts to a total of 7.3 billion euro.

Balkan Tender Watch monitoring observed in five consecutive years (2017-2021) the total annual value of public procurement in all countries. There is a substantial difference among annual public procurement values in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia on the one hand, and public procurement values in North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo, which is certainly the consequence of size of states and the volume of their respective public sectors. Average value, for the period of five years, that observed countries spent through public procurement were as follows:

  1. Albania: 1.215.989.770 EUR;
  2. Bosnia and Herzegovina: 1.401.720.126 EUR;
  3. North Macedonia: 895.035.336 EUR;
  4. Montenegro: 469.013.124 EUR;
  5. Kosovo: 560.424.113 EUR;
  6. Serbia: 3.587.933.170 EUR.

As we can see, on the average Serbia is spending through the public procurement around 80% of amount that all other countries are spending combined.

Procurement

Contracting authorities almost always procure only the cheapest goods, services or works, i.e., in 94% the lowest offered price is the deciding criterion which further distances us from the effective implementation of the principle “best value for money”. In addition, our market is practically “closed” for foreign bidders – 1% of all contracts were awarded to EU bidders. As much as the EU market is bigger than the Serbian, the amount of funds spent in Serbia through public procurement in normal circumstances would attract a much larger number of foreign bidders.
Although untapped, there is a huge potential for improving accessibility, cooperation, transparency, through market opening and regional participation in tenders through the thorough analysis, alignment and use of open data.

The overall goal of the project

is to improve the openness and accessibility of the public procurement system through the implementation of national comparative analyses for the use of open data in new potential tools that will increase mutual market participation and competitiveness at the level of the Western Balkan countries. Specific goals:
Asset 3

Improvement

Improvement of participation, openness and competitiveness in the markets of the Western Balkan countries through the preparation of conditions for the development of a regional tool whose purpose will be the mutual opening of markets, based on the conducted national comparative analyses in public procurement systems from the aspect of accessibility and openness of data

Asset 1

Support

Support for national reforms aimed at improving the accessibility, openness and competitiveness of public procurement at the level of the Western Balkans through the analysis and advocacy of the recommendations presented through the “Policy brief” based on the conducted comparative analyses
Asset 2

Networking

Networking of regional actors and improvement of their role, interest, and integrity in the process of improving the openness and accessibility of the public procurement system in the Western Balkans region

Demo Application

NEXT GEN SEARCH

Advanced search
powered by Algolia

Advanced search powered by Algolia delivers fast, real-time results with customizable filters and typo tolerance, enhancing user experience by offering relevant, categorized results in milliseconds.

Advanced search powered by Algolia​
Expandable mobile optimized tables​
MOBILE FIRST

Expandable mobile
optimized tables

Expandable mobile-optimized tables allow users to tap on rows to reveal more data, making complex information easy to access without clutter. This ensures a clean, user-friendly experience on smaller screens.
DATA PRESENTATION

Fixed columns for
enhanced readability

Fixed table columns keep essential data like headers or key fields visible while scrolling horizontally. This improves readability and ensures users can view key information easily.
Fixed columns for enhanced readability ​
Seamless API access and documentation​
OPEN DATA

Seamless API access
and documentation

API access allows seamless interaction with open data, enabling researches and developers to integrate and automate tasks efficiently. Clear documentation ensures smooth implementation and reduces development time.

MULTI LANGUAGE SUPPORT

Multilingual support for broader audience​

A multilingual procurement portal empowers businesses across six countries to compete more effectively by providing localized content, fostering fair competition, and improving accessibility.
Multilingual support for broader audience​​
Dark theme for for sleek user experience ​
ACCESSIBILITY

Dark theme for
for sleek user experience

The dark theme offers a visually striking interface that reduces eye strain and enhances focus, especially in low-light environments. It provides a modern, sleek look while maintaining readability and user comfort.
AI CHATBOT

Chatbot with function calls
for dynamic Interaction

This chatbot integrates seamlessly into the app, enabling users to interact with data through intuitive queries and function calls. It enhances user experience by providing instant, context-aware responses and executing tasks directly from the chat interface.
Chatbot with function calls for dynamic Interaction ​
Support AI Agent for comprehensive assistance ​
SUPPORT AGENT

Support AI Agent for
comprehensive assistance

The Support AI Agent is equipped with extensive knowledge of all documentation, offering users expert guidance and immediate answers. It streamlines support by providing accurate, context-aware assistance, enhancing user experience and resolving queries efficiently.
PROCUREMENT CHATBOT

Procurement chatbot for
procedure-specific assistance

This chatbot is designed to provide detailed insights and support for a specific procurement procedure. It is well-versed in all relevant documents and data, offering users precise, context-driven answers and streamlining the procurement process.
Procurement chatbot for procedure-specific assistance ​
Procurement research using LLM models ​
LARGE SCALE RESEARCH

Procurement research
using LLM models

This documentation covers the methodologies and tools for conducting extensive procurement research using AI technologies. It includes guidelines for leveraging AI to analyze data, optimize procurement strategies, and gain actionable insights.