The Czech parliament appears set to approve an amendment to the law on public tenders that would enable the final price tag for public works to differ from the winning by as much as 30 percent. Those opposing the change warn that suppliers will always figure out a way to increase the price by as much as is allowed in the law, but the government coalition pushing through the change believes it will help in the fight against corruption, and argues that all European countries have similar tolerance levels.
Other changes are being prepared, including an entirely new law on public investments that would make it possible to pick a winner on criteria other than price. The current reliance on a single criteria, say critics, makes it impossible to choose thoughtfully prepared, quality bids over bids that are priced too low to be feasible. Finally, the construction law on EIA permits should be changed so that just one approval stamp is needed, a step that should reduce wasteful bureaucratic delays and expense.
