Formulate systematic and consistent procedures with well-defined financial and decision-making authorities. Administrative guidelines and tender documents should include appropriate warnings against bribery and the requirement to declare potential conflicts of interest.
Develop a list of approved contractors/suppliers for different works or supply of materials based on prescribed criteria and review it regularly. The listing criteria should not be so stringent that it limits healthy competition and it should be made known to all potential bidders in the call for registration.
Invite only the contractors/suppliers on the approved list to tender. Carefully scrutinise any addition or deletion.
Make procurement requirements, rules and decision-making criteria readily accessible to all potential suppliers/contractors. Make any additional information available to all bidders at the same time.
Set up a joint pre-tender meeting for bidders to enquire about and discuss any issues related to the project if necessary.
Ensure that the opening of bids is witnessed and conducted independently and that all decisions are properly recorded.
Set up an independent panel, e.g. a tender board, for selecting and approving tenders.
Select contractors/suppliers on the basis of their qualifications, the merits of their offers and the criteria defined in the tender documents.
Keep tender documents and information from tenderers confidential before awarding contracts.
Make sure arrangements for negotiated tenders are made known to all tenderers before the bidding is conducted.