Legal & Regulatory Framework

The Law

Governing instruments

Public procurement in Taraba State is governed by a hierarchy of instruments. Certified copies of each are available on the Downloads page.

• Taraba State Public Procurement Law — the principal legislation establishing the Bureau, the State Council on Public Procurement, procurement methods, thresholds, offences and remedies.
• Public Procurement Regulations — subsidiary regulations detailing procedures for goods, works, services and consultancy.
• Procurement circulars — periodic circulars on thresholds, margins of preference and administrative procedure.
• Standard bidding documents — mandatory templates for invitations, instructions to bidders, evaluation and contract forms.
• Code of conduct for public procurement — ethical obligations of procurement officers, bidders and suppliers.

Key principles under the Law

• Open competitive bidding as the default method of procurement.
• Procurement only within appropriated budgets and procurement plans.
• Public bid opening and evaluation strictly against pre-disclosed criteria.
• Publication of contract awards and unsuccessful-bidder notification.
• Mandatory record keeping for a minimum retention period.
• Administrative review rights for aggrieved bidders.

Offences and sanctions

The Law prescribes sanctions for collusion, bid rigging, splitting of contracts to evade thresholds, inflation of prices, conflict of interest and interference with the procurement process. Sanctions include debarment of companies, administrative penalties for officers and referral for criminal prosecution.

International alignment

The framework aligns with the UNCITRAL Model Law on Public Procurement, Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) publication practice, and the procurement guidelines of the World Bank and African Development Bank for donor-funded projects executed in the state.