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OSCE rejects criticism of ballot printing tender for Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 21 August 2000
SARAJEVO, 18 August 2000 - The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina expresses its concern at an inaccurate news agency report on its procedures with regard to its request for tenders for the ballot printing for the November 2000 general elections. The agency report implies that no effort was made to locate a company in BiH to do the printing, and that there was not enough transparency in the tendering process.
The OSCE has a most transparent procurement tendering process. In accordance with its procurement rules and regulations, the OSCE requests for tenders for contracts of this magnitude are always issued through the OSCE Secretariat procurement office in Vienna. In this particular instance, in the interest of complete transparency, invitations to bid were made available worldwide on the OSCE Website. This was done to ensure the broadest possible access by the general public as well as the member states' delegations. The ballot printing tender process, in this case specifically stated that BiH companies or companies who have contractors or subcontractors will receive preferential treatment.
Contrary to what is represented in the report, the ballot printing in this particular case is an extremely complex production. Because of the large quantity of out-of-country and absentee ballots scannable forms are used. The specifications for the ballots are extremely precise in order to ensure that these scannable forms can be properly read by the scanning machines. Indeed, as was previously stated by the organization, few companies in the world can meet those requirements. Furthermore, the large quantity of printing and the deadlines involved are highly demanding, thus further limiting the number of companies which are able to meet the complex and rigid specifications required.
The OSCE uses local resources wherever possible - indeed, it is at the forefront in utilizing local services in a wide range of fields, including the printing of nearly all of the Mission-generated such as its voter education material. Furthermore, the OSCE Elections Department is over 80% locally staffed - which is the best possible example of the Mission's commitment to nationalize the elections process. Anything said or implied to the contrary takes unacceptable liberties with the truth.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
For further questions, please contact Luke Zahner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, at 033/292-222 or 066/144-311.
The OSCE has a most transparent procurement tendering process. In accordance with its procurement rules and regulations, the OSCE requests for tenders for contracts of this magnitude are always issued through the OSCE Secretariat procurement office in Vienna. In this particular instance, in the interest of complete transparency, invitations to bid were made available worldwide on the OSCE Website. This was done to ensure the broadest possible access by the general public as well as the member states' delegations. The ballot printing tender process, in this case specifically stated that BiH companies or companies who have contractors or subcontractors will receive preferential treatment.
Contrary to what is represented in the report, the ballot printing in this particular case is an extremely complex production. Because of the large quantity of out-of-country and absentee ballots scannable forms are used. The specifications for the ballots are extremely precise in order to ensure that these scannable forms can be properly read by the scanning machines. Indeed, as was previously stated by the organization, few companies in the world can meet those requirements. Furthermore, the large quantity of printing and the deadlines involved are highly demanding, thus further limiting the number of companies which are able to meet the complex and rigid specifications required.
The OSCE uses local resources wherever possible - indeed, it is at the forefront in utilizing local services in a wide range of fields, including the printing of nearly all of the Mission-generated such as its voter education material. Furthermore, the OSCE Elections Department is over 80% locally staffed - which is the best possible example of the Mission's commitment to nationalize the elections process. Anything said or implied to the contrary takes unacceptable liberties with the truth.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
For further questions, please contact Luke Zahner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, at 033/292-222 or 066/144-311.