Slovakia - Selling to the GovernmentSlovakia Selling to the Government
Discusses the legal requirements for selling to the host government, including whether the government has agreed to abide by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement or is a party to a government procurement chapter in a U.S. FTA. Specifies areas where there are opportunities.
Slovakia is a founding member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and is an original signatory to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Slovak Government has joined the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement. Government tenders are announced and published on the Slovak Office for Public Procurement website. The state authority is also the primary body to offer training on public procurement. Its responsibilities include legislative and regulatory authority, drafting and monitoring implementation of the Public Procurement Act, reviewing public procurement documents, conducting oversight and publishing statistics and guidance, updating online portals, and imposing financial penalties in case of Public Procurement Act violations.
Since September 25, 2018 the Slovak Office for Public Procurement maintains a List of Economic Operators, which requires companies to register and meet conditions for participation in Slovak public procurement tenders. In order to register, companies must submit several documents issued by Slovak or foreign government authorities; only originals or certified copies may be submitted. If Slovak or foreign government authorities do not issue required documents, then a company may submit self-declarations (affidavits). However, the Slovak Office for Public Procurement not accept affidavits if U.S. authorities are able to issue official documents containing information companies originally submit as self-declarations. Many of the documents are not commonly requested in the United States and are often not readily obtainable from U.S. authorities. The U.S. Embassy Bratislava and ITA Trade Agreements Negotiations and Compliance Office are actively working with Slovak authorities to come to an agreement on what documents are acceptable.
Slovakia was one of the first Central European countries to adopt an act on public procurement.
Public procurement legislation is frequently amended, and challenges remain to fair competition and eradicating corruption. Corruption is a major challenge in Slovakia. The government’s anti-corruption plan calls for a number of measures, including judicial reform to increase the transparency and efficiency of court proceedings, but passing and implementing effective reforms is an ongoing challenge. The Ministry of Justice maintains a Register of Public Sector Partners that is a legally established list of public sector partners and end users of benefits. A public sector partner is a natural person or a legal entity that receives cash or a property from the state, local government, and other public sector entities above the statutory limit. In addition, all legal entities that enter into a contract, a framework agreement, or a concession contract under public procurement rules are required to be registered in the Register of Public Sector Partners.
Potential opportunities for U.S. companies include the following sectors: energy, defense, ICT, e-health, and e-government.
Many governments finance public works projects through borrowing from the Multilateral Development Banks. Please refer to “Project Financing” Section in “Trade and Project Financing” for more information. 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.
Slovakia is a founding member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and is an original signatory to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Slovak Government has joined the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement. Government tenders are announced and published on the Slovak Office for Public Procurement website. The state authority is also the primary body to offer training on public procurement. Its responsibilities include legislative and regulatory authority, drafting and monitoring implementation of the Public Procurement Act, reviewing public procurement documents, conducting oversight and publishing statistics and guidance, updating online portals, and imposing financial penalties in case of Public Procurement Act violations.
Since September 25, 2018 the Slovak Office for Public Procurement maintains a List of Economic Operators, which requires companies to register and meet conditions for participation in Slovak public procurement tenders. In order to register, companies must submit several documents issued by Slovak or foreign government authorities; only originals or certified copies may be submitted. If Slovak or foreign government authorities do not issue required documents, then a company may submit self-declarations (affidavits). However, the Slovak Office for Public Procurement not accept affidavits if U.S. authorities are able to issue official documents containing information companies originally submit as self-declarations. Many of the documents are not commonly requested in the United States and are often not readily obtainable from U.S. authorities. The U.S. Embassy Bratislava and ITA Trade Agreements Negotiations and Compliance Office are actively working with Slovak authorities to come to an agreement on what documents are acceptable.
Slovakia was one of the first Central European countries to adopt an act on public procurement.
Public procurement legislation is frequently amended, and challenges remain to fair competition and eradicating corruption. Corruption is a major challenge in Slovakia. The government’s anti-corruption plan calls for a number of measures, including judicial reform to increase the transparency and efficiency of court proceedings, but passing and implementing effective reforms is an ongoing challenge. The Ministry of Justice maintains a Register of Public Sector Partners that is a legally established list of public sector partners and end users of benefits. A public sector partner is a natural person or a legal entity that receives cash or a property from the state, local government, and other public sector entities above the statutory limit. In addition, all legal entities that enter into a contract, a framework agreement, or a concession contract under public procurement rules are required to be registered in the Register of Public Sector Partners.
Potential opportunities for U.S. companies include the following sectors: energy, defense, ICT, e-health, and e-government.
Many governments finance public works projects through borrowing from the Multilateral Development Banks. Please refer to “Project Financing” Section in “Trade and Project Financing” for more information. 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.