Matvienko asked the State Duma to promptly adopt amendments to the law on public procurement

Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko asked the State Duma to consider and promptly adopt amendments to the law on public procurement (44-FZ). The speaker made such a remark at the plenary session today, March 15. The initiative of the Federation Council is designed to simplify the relevant procedures.

“I have a request to you, Nikolai Andreevich (Zhuravlev.—”b”), and to the representative of the president in the Federation Council, and the representative of the government, and I asked the State Duma to consider and adopt this law as a matter of priority, without delay. He is very much expected in the regions, business is waiting for him, ”said Ms. Matvienko (quoted from TASS).

Bill “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On the Contract System in the Sphere of Procurement of Goods, Works, Services for State and Municipal Needs”” a group of senators led by Valentina Matvienko and Nikolai Zhuravlev introduced the day before, March 14. The explanatory note to the document states that it was prepared, among other things, to “simplify, increase efficiency and efficiency” in meeting state and municipal needs.

Among other things, the changes provide for an increase in the price threshold that allows an electronic request for quotations (from RUB 3 million to RUB 10 million), as well as the removal of restrictions on the volume of such purchases. An increase in the price threshold is also provided, at which small purchases are allowed in electronic form using electronic platforms (from 3 million rubles to 5 million rubles).

Also, the bill will establish the possibility of conducting purchases in the construction sector on a turnkey basis until January 1, 2025. The customer will be empowered to conclude a contract with the procurement participant, which received the second number during the auction, in the event that the contract with the first one is terminated “due to circumstances beyond the control of the supplier (contractor, performer)”. At the same time, it is not necessary to include the first participant in the register of unscrupulous suppliers.

In addition, the amendments will give the customer the right to set different advance payments for different stages of contract execution (concerning work on the development of project documentation, engineering surveys, construction, reconstruction, overhaul). At the same time, the right of the customer is provided not to provide an advance payment at all for the stages at which design documentation is being developed or engineering surveys are being conducted.

Finally, the amendments will eliminate unnecessary requirements regarding the determination of the initial (maximum) contract price (IMCC). The customer will be given the right to independently develop the rules for determining and justifying the NMCC.

Ms. Matviyenko noted that “disputes and objections” arose during the preparation of changes in the Federation Council, but as a result of the discussion, the senators managed to come to the necessary compromises. According to the speaker of the Federation Council, the proposed changes were approved by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

February 1 Valentina Matvienko suggested impose a moratorium on 44-FZ until the end of the military operation in Ukraine. The speaker’s business proposal alerted, however, in an interview with Kommersant, industry representatives noted that the current legislation on public procurement somehow needs to be changed.

Read more about this in the material “Kommersant FM” “Public procurement offered a moratorium”.

Grigory Leiba