The Cypriot government is stepping up efforts to strengthen the framework for public works contracts following the unfortunate cancellation of the Paphos-Polis road project. With the first phase of the project at risk of long delays, the Public Procurement Authority is introducing new conditions for public works tenders to minimize the time required to find a new contractor.
The General Accounting Office, which acts as the Public Procurement Authority, has already codified the planned changes. According to a briefing note from the Accountant General to Parliament, obtained by Kathimerini’s Cyprus edition, several key measures are proposed, with one already incorporated into tender procedures.
The new clause allows contracting authorities, after reviewing all relevant data, to trigger a defined mechanism to approach the next bidder in line after a project is terminated. This would allow the continuation and completion of stalled projects without the need for a lengthy retendering process, which typically takes about six months.
For the Paphos-Polis road, this means the contracting authority – Public Works – can invite the second-ranked bidder, AVAX SA, to take over the project.