KOC installs E-tendering system

KOC installs E-tendering system By Ahmad Faraj KUWAIT, Nov 9 (KUNA) -- Kuwait Oil Company has made a distinguished achievement on the path of realising the E-government scheme with installment of the E-tendering system that has replaced traditional means of communications such as mail, fax and telephone.
The KOC has taken the lead in the region by automating all its internal tendering processes through Microsoft net technologies. The KOC E-tenering is one o the first fully implemented solutions of its kind in the oil and gas industry in the Middle East.
The new system includes promotion of some tenders, issued by the KOC, without reference to the Central Tenders Committee, said Awatif Bouland, the KOC's Contracts Team leader in remarks to KUNA. It saves some 30 percent of time and efforts, required in the traditional contracting processes, she said.
The KOC has drawn attention at Dubia "Gitex" fair for computer technologies, held last month. Executives of the company presented elaborate information about the new system drawing admiration by visitors who pointed out in particular at its accuracy, speed and security.
Elaborating on the E-tendering processes, Bouland said that the contracts department in the company is responsible for preparing the tender in its original form, in response to a request by the interested company. The tender is placed on the website, after completion of legal and trade aspects of the process, with the following addressing: "www.koc.w.com." Bouland said the tender is addressed to a group of local and international companies that had previously cooperated withe company, in addition to other companies that presented the warranted terms.
The interested companies will have to fill a certain application to join the tendering process, she said.
According to Bouland, the E-tendering project is the first phase in the KOC's strategy to procure materials and services on-line from th best possible suppliers at the best possible cost. In the future, the KOC plans to enlarge the scope of this solution to include virtual marketplace, which will bring together its numerous suppliers and contractors.
With Microsoft Net technologies, the KOC has streamlined the current tendering processes such as the supplier registration, tender submission, publishing and classification as well as awarding the tender.
"As a leader in oil production, th KOC has taken a stategic step in harnessing technology to automate its vast tendering operations and empowering employees with the tools they require to work more effectively," said Ali Dalloul, Country Manager, Microsoft Middle East, North Gulf. (end) af.rk