{"id":307776,"date":"2022-05-10T11:19:55","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T10:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/?p=307776"},"modified":"2022-05-12T11:22:58","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T10:22:58","slug":"transparent-contractions-in-municipalities-and-assessment-through-the-red-flag-index-april-2022-april-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/transparent-contractions-in-municipalities-and-assessment-through-the-red-flag-index-april-2022-april-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Contracting Albania LGUs and Red Flag Index 2020-2021 , April 2022 \u2013 April 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\"><em>Open Contracting Albania LGUs and Red Flag Index 2020-2021\u00a0<\/em> is an ongoing project, implemented by AIS with the financial of NED (National Endowment for Democracy), with a targeted run until April 2024.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">The project entails the following main activities:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Developing an index assessing Albania\u2019s 61 municipalities&#8217; procurement process, rating each municipality for their general risk for non-competitive tenders, unduly short bidding periods, disqualification of legitimate tenders, and other non-transparent or preferential components;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Monitor the implementation of the Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Program as outlined, producing a progress report every six months;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Update the <a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/openprocurement.al\/en\">Open Contracting database<\/a> with an additional 20,000 public contracting passports and relevant documentation, for the duration of the tender;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Use \u201cred flag\u201d algorithm to designate risky and irregular tenders, as an accountability mechanism;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Host four journalist and civil society roundtables, two per year, on how to make use of the database and the \u201cred flag\u201d Index;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Host at least 28 info-sessions with journalists, one every four weeks, to increase knowledge of the procurement processes amongst local journalists and civil society;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Publish at least four newsletters, two per year, detailing major cases and incidents in the procurement processes, for the public, civil society, and media use.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Through the <strong><em>Open Contracting Albania LGUs and Red Flag Index 2020-2021 <\/em><\/strong>two-year project<em>,<\/em> its activities, and results, the applicant organization has managed to instill a transparency and accountability culture in the country, with special focus on Public Procurement and Contracting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">The project marked the following accomplishments:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">consolidated the anti-corruption instruments (ICT tools);<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">strengthened public pressure on government authorities for a fairer distribution of contracts;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">consolidated databases that enable information, transparency, and accountability;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">empowered fact-based journalism;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">assisted analytical processes guaranteeing quality and integrity in Public Contracting;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Advocated for a Law-abiding Contracting, in line with the EU Public Procurement Standards.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">The outcomes, the projects\u2019 conclusions, have stimulated and offered a better quality to the public and institutional debate on corruption in <a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/political-and-media-debate-on-corruption-in-procurement-ais-contributes-through-facts-and-truths\/\">tendering<\/a>. Often the information provided by the database has directly opposed the arguments of the Albanian Government justifying defects in the Public Contracting process.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Facts and assessments on Public Tendering have prompted dozens of stories of <a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/albanian-media-interception-of-italian-anti-mafia-about-influence-over-tenders-in-tirana-80-procurement-processes-were-already-reported-by-open-procurement-albania-for-their-risk-of-corruption-and-i\/\">quality journalism<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">The tendering database and Red Flag algorithm, at the moment, are key decisive instruments in controlling and evaluating the Local Government&#8217;s performance.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">The Model has provided data and information, producing various documents attesting to the quality of <a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/category\/oda\/?s=alesio&amp;lang=en\">Public Procurement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Using the findings and experience gained, the organization has also participated in consultations at the national level for drafting the New Law on Public Procurement and the Sectorial Strategy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">Important bodies have recommended that the Albanian Authorities consider the database and the risk assessment algorithm created, the <strong>Open Contracting Albania LGU and Red Flag Index 2020-2021<\/strong> Project, as models to be applied by the State Institutions, responsible for publication and risk assessment in public contracting<a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">The implemented project has consolidated the Applicant Organization&#8217;s position as a leading organization among civil actors working on information, transparency, accountability, and public pressure for Regular <a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=11526&amp;lang=en\">Tenders and Contracting<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\">In addition to having disclosed data and documents on Public Procurement at the Municipality level, the Organization has successfully applied the red flag algorithm for marking tenders, showing signs of competition irregularities. All tenders that have been announced and processed by 61 Municipalities and subordinate institutions have been published in real-time, following the Open Contracting standards. The Passport created for each tender includes documents, whose publication is mandatory for purposes of transparency. Finally, all stages of the public competition are updated and scanned, using the red flag algorithm. The same process was conducted for tenders carried out as part of the State Reconstruction Program. Our well-structured database is favored by the audience, marking a satisfactory number of clicks and visits.<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\"><strong>Transparency and Litigation<\/strong> The organization has carefully monitored the process of implementation of the Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Program, designed two years ago by the Albanian Government, and is still in the early stages of its implementation. The program was designed in an emergency situation and was characterized by difficulties and problems. During the monitoring process, in addition to delays, the Applicant also found and referred to shortcomings derived from the new legislation applied in selecting the Programs\u2019 contracted builders, by areas and types of intervention. Noting the application of a special law, in violation to the Economic Freedom and Competitiveness right, the organization decided to draft a <a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/ais-opendata-files-lawsuit-with-the-constitutional-court-challenging-law-97-2019-claiming-its-section-on-procurement-reconstruction-program-violates-economic-freedom-potentially-leaving-room-for-ine\/\">Lawsuit<\/a> addressed to the Constitutional Court, calling for the repeal of said Special Law, demanding that Contractors be selected in keeping with the existing Law on Procurement standards, which also provides for situations requiring rapid interventions by guaranteeing competition and efficiency in contracting.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; line-height: 20px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;\" align=\"left\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> This proposal comes from Open Contracting Partnership and from Heritie School of Governance\u00a0 <a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/corruption-risk-in-albania-public-procurement-2017-2019-a-document-prepared-by-heritie-school-of-governance-and-the-albanian-institute-of-sciences-ais-may-2021\/\">http:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/corruption-risk-in-albania-public-procurement-2017-2019-a-document-prepared-by-heritie-school-of-governance-and-the-albanian-institute-of-sciences-ais-may-2021\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Open Contracting Albania LGUs and Red Flag Index 2020-2021\u00a0 is an ongoing project, implemented by AIS with the financial of NED (National Endowment for Democracy), with a targeted run until April 2024.\u00a0 The project entails the following main activities: Developing an index assessing Albania\u2019s 61 municipalities&#8217; procurement process, rating each municipality for their general risk [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":307739,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[231],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-307776","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ongoing-projects"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307776","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=307776"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307776\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":309372,"href":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307776\/revisions\/309372"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/307739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=307776"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=307776"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ais.al\/new\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=307776"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}