US experts train Maharashtra officials in 'value-based public procurement'

The US Trade & Development Agency (USTDA), in partnership with Maharashtra government, launched a three-day workshop to train over 100 local procurement officials on "value-based public procurement practices", an official said here on Tuesday.

The workshop entitled "Global Procurement Initiative: Understanding Best Value" (GPI) will have experts from the George Washington University's Government Procurement Law Programme and GPI energy and transportation specialists.

It will focus on international best practices in value-based procurement, sessions on public private partnerships and in-depth life-cycle cost analysis training.

This workshop would culminate in a MoU between the state government and USTDA, under which the latter will continue to support Maharashtra's efforts to improve its public procurement practices and become a regional leader.

"These (workshop and MoU) will support the state's already extensive efforts to integrate best-value determinations into public tenders, foster fair and transparent international competition and promote long-term professionalization of the procurement workforce," said USTDA's Director, Global Programmes, Andrea Lupo.

"I am confident that this partnership with USTDA will help us to implement the revised procurement law and develop best procurement practices for achieving the best value for state consistent with international standards," said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the occasion.

State Public Works Department Minister Chandrakant Patil said the partnership is an opportunity to collaborate on procurement capacity building across the state, especially in public works and energy, to ensure the state received the best value for public funds through fair and open competition.

US Consul-General in Mumbai Edgard Kagan, in his opening remarks, said this partnership reflects the close cooperation with Maharashtra and another key avenue of collaboration between the US and India, with a beneficial impact across the region.

The USTDA and Maharashtra launched the partnership talks last year and a delegation from this state went on a study tour to the US.

They received in-depth training from the George Washington University, met professors at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and gained insights on different models in best value procurement at the US federal, state and local levels.

--IANS

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