7 January 2020, Top Story Media Programme: 1 in 3 tenders with no fair competition. Open data promote investigative journalism and enable reporting of corruption over Albanian taxpayers’ money

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On January 7th, Top Story, an investigative show, reported on forms of fraud with public procurement tenders in the country. Journalist Entela Barjamaj and the national Top Channel TV team introduced shocking facts on Top Story, such as one in every three tenders being conducted without fair competition.  300 million Euros of taxpayers’ money seem to be lost every year due to abuse with, and misappropriation of, clientelist tenders.

AIS, the organization promoting open data in Albania contributed to this courageous television investigation through data released from three important open data databases. Namely:

In addition to open data released from our databases, including clear and denouncing arguments, contribution to this programme was also made by Director Aranita Brahaj, who elaborated on the shortcomings of tender procedures.

Corruption is one of the most problematic issues for the country. Justice institutions or anticorruption mechanisms in the country are weak to non-existent. Nevertheless, media and watchdog organisations continue to report facts and contribute against abuse with public money. For four years, AIS has been publishing data and assessing risk of tender irregularities, known as Procurement RedFlag, providing information and identifying issues with every tender conducted by municipalities, the Albanian Development Fund, the Albanian Road Authority, the health sector, and public-owned companies.

Top Story program and Promo are available on YouTube channel

7 janar 2020, Top Story Media Program: 1 në 3 tendera pa garë të ndershme, Të dhëna të hapura nxisin gazetarinë investigative dhe denoncojnë korrupsionin me para të taksapaguesve shqiptar

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Në datën7 janar emisioni investigative TopStory denoncoi forma të mashtrimit përmes tenderimeve prokurimeve publike në vend. Gazetarja Entela Barjamaj dhe ekipi i Tv Kombëtar Top Channel, sollën në Top Story fakte tronditëse si mbajtja e një në çdo tre tendera pa garë të ndershme.  300 milion euro, para të taksapaguesve rezultojnë çdo vit të humbura, abuzuara dhe vjedhura përmes tenderimeve me element klientelist.

Organizata AIS promotore e të dhënave të hapura në Shqipëri kontribuoi në këtë investigim të guximshëm televiziv, përmes të dhënave të çliruara nga tre databaza të rëndësishme me të dhëna të hapura. Konkretisht:

Veç të dhënave të hapura të mara nga databazat tona, me argumente të qarta dhe denoncuese kontribuoi në këtë Program edhe artikulimi i drejtoreshës së AIS Aranita Brahaj mbi defekte të procedurës së tenderimeve.

Korrupsioni është një nga çështjet më problematike për vendin. Institucionet e drejtësisë apo mekanizmat antikorrupsion në vend janë të dobëta deri jo ekzistente. Kundrejt kësaj media dhe organizatat watch dog vijojnë të denoncojnë fakte dhe kontribuojnë kundër abuzimeve me para publike. Prej katër vitesh AIS zbardh të dhëna dhe vlerëson riskun për parregullsi në tenderim njohur si RedFlag Prokurime duke zbardhur informacion dhe defekte të garës për çdo tender të mbajtur nga Bashkitë, Fondi Shqiptar i Zhvillimit, Autoriteti Shqiptar i Rrugëve, Sektori Shëndetësi, Agjencia e Blerjeve të Përqendruara, Shoqëritë me Zotërim Publik.

Programi Top Story dhe Promo janë të vendosura në kanalin You Tube

Albania 1 Euro – The Government rented eight state properties for 916 new jobs

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The Albanian Government has signed eight contracts in 2019 for economic subjects that have obtained actual rights over state property against a symbolic price of 1 Euro. The Albania 1-Euro programme aims to grant potential employers (businesses) state property to use, with the purpose of increasing private investments and the number of employees. In 2019, six businesses and a non-profit organization have benefited from this programme. Only one of the contractors is a foreign investor. Properties granted for use in 2019, with a rental fee of only 1- Euro and for up to 60 years, are mainly industrial objects and military objects. In total, the Government has granted 537,503 square meters of total surface for 916 new jobs, without any contractual requirements that the employers in such contracts to be Albanian citizens. The investor, who has been granted the largest area, is the Albanian company Blu Imperial . More jobs in exchange for the Albania 1-Euro project are expected to be created by the Korean company Yura Co.Ltd, which will open a company for electric parts for cars. Its investment is estimated to be 6.5 million Euros and expected to create 516 jobs. Open Corporates Albania has prepared transparent passports for the business companies that have been granted rental contracts for only 1-Euro for state property.

Open Contracting for Tenders by Albanian Road Authority – Transparency and Risk Assessment of Abuse

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Tenders and Contracts awarded by the Albanian Road Authority are now accessible by Open Contracting standards. Following tenders for municipalities, public-owned business companies, health, the Albanian Road Fund, and Central Purchasing Agency, the non-profit organization AIS is also ensuring transparency over tender stages and contracts awarded by this key contractor authority in the country. The Albanian Road Authority is the central planning institution for national road infrastructure contracts. The database and the algorithm for corruption risk show that 40 out of 100 tenders are marked by a redflag, indicating the potential for racial inequality. Open Contracting – The Albanian Road Authority is one of the activities of the “Improvement of the Integrity of Public Contractors” Project supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Ambassador of the Netherlands to Tirana, Mrs. Guusje Korthals Altes, was also present at the presentation of the database to a group of investigative journalists.

Information Memo on the State of Schools, where the project is being implemented, in Kurbin and Lezha Municipalities, following the earthquake of 26 November 2019

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The “Open ICT Education for Youth Employability” Project, Grant Contract no. 2017/394-533 , implemented by ODK and AIS, scheduled to last from 15 January 2018 until 15 February 2020, targets beneficiaries/educational institutions from Kosovo and Albania. More specifically, high schools from Kurbin and Lezha Municipalities are among the targeted beneficiaries.
Following, you may find some information about the damages caused to the project beneficiary schools by the natural disaster, namely the earthquake of 26 November 2019 in this Memo HERE.

Eventi Tryezë Pune me temë: Akses Info Drejtësi e Reformuar

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Organizata Instituti Shqiptar i Shkencave AIS organizoi një Tryezë Pune me temë Akses Info Drejtësi e Reformuar. Kjo tryezë u mbajt në datën 4 Tetor 2019, ora 10:00 pranë ambienteve të Hotel Plaza salla Marin Barleti A. Projekti u mbështet nga Fondacioni Shoqëria e Hapur për Shqipërinë OSFA.
Pjesëmarrës në këtë Tryezë Pune ishin: Institucione, OJF, Programet e Asistencës, Ekspert ligjor dhe Moderator.

Agjenda Këtu
Listë prezenca Këtu

Raporti me konkluzione dhe rekomandime. Shiko këtu.







AIS starts the Improvement of Integrity of the Public Contractors Project, supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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The newest project started by AIS is named Improvement of Integrity of the Public Contractor, Legislation, Practice and Role of Civic Actors. The project is supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as one of the MATRA Program in Albania. On July 18th, the Dutch Ambassador Ms. Guusje Korthals Altes and Director of AIS Ms Aranita Brahaj signed an agreement for the launching of the project activities. The project shall make an assessment of the national legislation, comparing it with EU member states regarding the selection and evaluation of the private companies competing for public contracts. The findings shall conclude and recommend improvements for the national legislation and practice. Empowering investigative media and civil actors monitoring public contracting processes is going to be one of the components of the project, focusing on issues related with the integrity of private contractors.

Events with Journalists. Role of Central and Local Authorities during electoral periods, Monitoring Practices

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On the 26th of July, a round table was held in Tirana with journalists and representatives from the civil society on the Role of Central and Local Authorities during electoral periods, Monitoring Practices. The round table was organized by the Albanian Institute of Science (AIS) and the Institute for Political Studies (ISP), supported by USAID/Accelerated Civic Development and Cooperation Project. The two organizations implement projects for monitoring and improving the situation in relation to the use of public assets in electoral years. AIS is implementing a project consisting of monitoring abuse of public assets by state-owned companies during electoral periods. As a result of this project, two databases were presented. One of them consists of comprehensive historical records and information for each tender procedure of state-owned companies over the two last years, including the electoral year. The other database provides the public with information and knowledge about the management and performance of state-owned companies from the time they were established up to the present. The database is accessible on the Open Corporates Albania portal, under the State-Owned. Companies section. The participating journalists in this event represented various traditional media and online media such as Top Channel; Ora News; BIRN; ShqiptarjaCom; Shekulli; News 24; Opinion; Citizens Channel; Centre for Quality Journalism; ExitAl, etc.
The experts at this round table were knowledgeable about both legislation and practices regarding the performance of the public sector and its monitoring, and mainly those of state-owned companies in Albania and in the region. The purpose of the round table was not only to present the monitoring findings, but also to enhance the capacity of journalists in producing quality reports on the use of public assets in electoral years.

Agenda Here

Photos:

Roundtable with representatives from the media, civil society, and institutions – Transparency, Monitoring and Evaluation of Procurement of Central Purchasing Agency (CPA)

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A round table was heldon 11.06.2019, with representatives from the media, civil society, and institutions. The purpose of this round table was:

  • to present the volume and dynamics of the institution’s work over the last 15 months;

  • analyze the context in which the institution was established;

  • assess the impact of the Agency on the efficiency and quality of Procurements and Contracts,

  • compare it with other models, and identify the need for interventions and further improvement

Moderators in the round table were experts in the legislation and institutional practices of procurement and contracting. They were: Muharrem Çakaj and Elton Lula, expert in procurement and appeals, former member of the Public Procurement Commission.

In addition to journalists and civil society representatives, participants included also representatives from the Ministry of Finances and the High State Audit.

The well-structured database of procurements made by the Public Procurement Agency by their volume and characteristics was presented at the round table. Thus:

  • During this period of 15 months, the system has announced the signing of 293 contracts, which are worth a fund limit of 6 347 790 714 Albanian lekëhttp://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/list (no more than 20 contracts per month).

  • These 293 contracts include 12 contract by a value of more than 100 million Albanian lekë each http://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/list/limit_fond/100%20infinit?

  • The highest-value tender is the one for purchasing Uniforms for the State Police and complementary accessories, reaching the fund limit of limit 908 973 900 Albanian lekë, announced on August 10th, 2018. This tender is cancelled, because none of the submitted bids met the tender criteria. http://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/view/id/30

  • The total number of cancelled tenders is 37, including 3 of a fund limit exceeding 100 million Albanian lekë. Two of those tender procedures were cancelled after a winner was announced http://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/list/status_id/4?

  • 23 tenders were conducted with one competitor only http://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/list/bidder_no/1?

  • So far, the Central Purchasing Agency conducts tenders for 81 state institutions, including the Director of State Police, Customs, Prisons, Health Institutions, etc.

  • The RedFlag instrument has automatically marked so far 65 tenders by red flags, including 8 that exceed the value of 100 million Albanian lekë each (from 12 contracts in total) http://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/redflag and 33 of 5 up to 100 million Albanian lekë each.

Upon conclusion, the round table participants identified the need for better regulating the process of selection of the Agency employees and their status; the needs for completing the secondary legislation needed for the institution, as well as the need for increasing the number of Government institutions delegating their procurement powers to the Agency. One of the most voiced needs was the one for improving and strengthening the role of watchdog stakeholders in monitoring public contracting.

Transparencë, Monitorim dhe Vlerësim për Prokurimet e Agjencisë së Blerjeve të Përqëdnruara

Transparencë, Monitorim dhe Vlerësim për Prokurimet e Agjencisë së Blerjeve të Përqëdnruara

Transparencë, Monitorim dhe Vlerësim për Prokurimet e Agjencisë së Blerjeve të Përqëdnruara

Transparencë, Monitorim dhe Vlerësim për Prokurimet e Agjencisë së Blerjeve të Përqëdnruara

Transparencë, Monitorim dhe Vlerësim për Prokurimet e Agjencisë së Blerjeve të Përqëdnruara

Transparencë, Monitorim dhe Vlerësim për Prokurimet e Agjencisë së Blerjeve të Përqëdnruara

Transparencë, Monitorim dhe Vlerësim për Prokurimet e Agjencisë së Blerjeve të Përqëdnruara

 

Central Purchasing Agency Roundtable Presentation PDF

Tendera të Agjencisë së Blerjeve të Përqendruara të proceduar nga Shkurt 2018 deri 31 Maj 2019.

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Aksesi në të  dhëna standardi Open Contracting. Duke përdorur publikimet në sistemin e APP, të dhëna të buletineve, të dhëna të sistemit të Thesarit apo të dhëna të Open Corporates Albania është krijuar databaza me pasaporta për të gjitha tenderimet e prokuruara nga kjo Agjenci e Blerjeve të Përqendruara. Në rastin e tenderimeve me lote, secili Lot (garë) është konsideruar një pasaportë e vetme.

  • Në këtë periudhë 15 mujore, na rezulton që sistemi ka anoncuar 293 kontrata me një vlerë Fondi Limit prej 6 347 790 714 Lekë  http://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/list (jo më shumë se 20 kontrata në muaj).

  • Në këto 293 kontrata me vlera më të mëdha se 100 milion lekë janë 12 kontrata
    Link: http://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/list/limit_fond/100%20infinit?

  • Tenderi me vlerën më të lartë i njoftuar është ai për Blerje Uniforma për Policinë e Shtetit dhe aksesorë që e plotësojnë me fond limit 908 973 900 lekë i shpallur në datën 10 gusht 2018. Ky tender është anulluar pasi asnjë nga ofertat e paraqitura nuk përputhen me kriteret e përcaktuara në dokumentet e tenderit. http://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/view/id/30

  • Tendera të anulluar janë 37 në total, mes tyre 3 janë me vlera të fondit limit mbi 100 milion lekë, ky dy anullime janë bërë pasi është shpallur fituesi http://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/list/status_id/4?

  • 23 tendera janë aplikuar me vetëm një konkurrent në garë http://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/list/bidder_no/1?

  • Deri tani Institucionet për emër dhe llogari të të cilave tenderon Agjencia janë 81 mes tyre drejtori të Policisë së Shtetit, Doganave, Burgjeve, Institucione të Shëndetësisë etj.

  • Sistemi i markimit me RedFlag ka markuar deri tani automatikisht 65 tendera, nga të cilët me vlerë mbi 100 milion lekë janë 8 (nga 12 kontrata në total) kontrata http://openprocurement.al/sq/agency/redflag dhe me vlerë 5 deri 100 milion lekë janë 33 kontrata.

  • Projekti do të monitorojë dhe publikojë në formatin OpenContracting të gjitha tenderimet e kësaj Agjencie në 2 vitet e para të punës.

Ky proces për krijimin e databazës dhe monitorimin  e të dhënave realizohet në kuadër të projektit Transparency, Monitorin gand Evaluation of Procurement of Central Purchasing Agency, projekt i mbështetur financiarisht nga Programi i Granteve të Vogla të Komisionit për Demokraci i Ambasadës së SHBA-ve në Tiranë, ku opinionet, gjetjet, konkluzionet dhe rekomandimet e shprehura janë të autorëve dhe nuk përfaqësojnë domosdoshmërisht ato të Departamentit të Shtetit.