Kuwait - Selling to the Government Kuwait - Selling to the Government
Tenders are usually awarded on the basis of the lowest price once technical compliance has been established. Businesses should note that if a bidder wins a tender but then refuses to sign the contract, the concerned Ministry has the right to confiscate the bid bond as well as the performance bond, which may equal 5-10% of the contract’s value.
Many companies add 10-15% to the cost of the project to mitigate the potential risk of projects or losing the performance bond. Foreign companies cannot sell directly to the government nor can they participate in public tenders except through a local agent. In the oil sector, for instance, suppliers must be approved by an internal committee and placed on a list of “pre-approved” companies. For major projects, international companies are usually invited to pre-qualify.
There is a 10% price preference on public contracts in favor of Kuwaiti businesses. If a contracting officer or authority determines that a local company meets the technical specifications of the proposal, and even though the bid price may be higher (within 10%), the local company is awarded the contract. Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.