SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE




Background: The World Bank (www.worldbank.org) is the largest Multilateral Development Bank (MDB). Apart from financing development projects, the World Bank also contributes to generation of knowledge in the form of research, studies, reports etc. Public Procurement is one of the focus areas for research by the World Bank as countries across the world spend up to 20% of their GDP through public procurement, which directly impacts development in these countries. Conflict of interest is a common problem in public procurement, which may not only impact the equity and transparency, but may also impact the procurement outcomes.

With above background, the World Bank has recently commissioned a study to understand policies on conflict of interest in public procurement and related practices in South Asian countries. We would be thankful if you kindly spare a few minutes to answer the following questions related to the above.

Please note that individual survey responses will be for internal use of the World Bank and will not be disclosed to third parties. Only aggregate data will be used in the Report. We will also not attribute a particular comment to you to maintain confidentiality.

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* Your Name

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* Your Designation

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* Name of your organization

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* Your mail ID

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Website of your organization (if available)

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* Please select the Country your organization belongs to

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* Please select the Role of your Organization

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* Have you heard of the term “Conflict of Interest” in connection with public procurement?

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* Are you aware of any government policy/rules regarding “Conflict of Interest” in connection with public procurement?

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Please name the rules/policies you are aware of

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Have you ever reported any conflict of interest or perceived/potential conflict of interest situations in public procurement?

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If so, what was the channel (Phone/email/fax etc.) used for reporting?

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* In your view, Which of the following situations could affect the objectivity and impartiality in decisions in public procurement?

  Absolutely no effect Liitle effect Average effect High effect Extremenly high effect Do not know
The competent official in the procuring organization receives gifts (including tangible items as well as intangible advantages/ inducements/ favors) from bidders or contractor/supplier/service provider/ consultant.
The competent official in the procuring organization has relatives being full or part owners of businesses acting as bidders/ contractor/supplier/service provider/ consultant.
The competent official in the procuring organization has shareholding/ownership (direct or indirect) in bidder/ contractor/supplier/service provider/ consultant companies.
The competent official in the procuring organization become sub-contractor (directly or indirectly) of a contractor/supplier/service provider/ consultant firm, which has been awarded a public contract
The competent official in the procuring organization has relatives being employees of businesses acting as bidder/ contractor/supplier/service provider/ consultant
Retired government officials who were involved in project while in government, are employed by contractor/supplier/service provider/ consultant working for the same project.
A firm (or its affiliate) that has been engaged for designing a project also supplies goods, works, or services resulting from its design.
Government purchases directly or gives preference to state-owned enterprises (or public sector enterprises) fully or partially owned by it.
Bidders participating in a public tender have conflict of interest between them (for example, if such bidders have common ownership or common management or any other type of relationship)

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* To what extent do you agree with the following concepts with reference to public procurement?

  Strongly disagree Somewhat disagree Undecided Agree Strongly Agree Do not know
Offering and receiving gifts are traditional culture, and the gift taking by public servants is normal.
Gifts present the appreciation sent to public servants, therefore, the receipt with high value gifts by public officials is normal.
Offering and receiving gifts are actually a mutual cooperation, and gift acceptance is obvious.
Within their jurisdiction, public servants should help friends or relatives in securing a procurement order
Gifts for the persons holding powers are mostly a form of bribe.
There is nothing wrong in a public official asking a contractor /supplier/service provider/ consultant, managed by such official, to employ a relative or a known person
Retired Government officials may work for the contractor/supplier/service provider/ consultant in previously administered projects.
Public officials should be allowed to directly or indirectly own a business which gets benefitted from public procurement managed by such officials

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* Have you witnessed or experienced the following situations during public procurement management?

  Never Very Rarely Occasionally Frequently Very Frequently
Gifts offering/taking in form of items or money (to competent official in the procuring organization or his/her relatives)
Gifts offering/taking in kind (for example: tours, study, health treatment abroad) (to competent official in the procuring organization or his/her relatives)
Competent official in the procuring organization having investment/sharing interests with businesses (directly or through relatives)
Competent official in the procuring organization buying/selling/renting real estates for projects being handled by self, thanks to information advantage from work
Competent official in the procuring organization making decision (or influencing the decision-making) beneficial to relatives
Procuring organization allowing a firm (or its affiliate) to supply goods, works, or services resulting from, or directly related to, consulting services that it provided for the preparation or implementation of a project
Government purchasing directly or giving preference to state-owned enterprises (or public sector enterprises) fully or partially owned by it.
Procuring organization requiring bidders to submit a “declaration of interest”
Procuring organization requiring bidders to submit the “beneficial ownership” details of its firm

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* Please comment the rationality of measures to control conflict of interest situations in public procurement

  Not at all Important Slightly important Important Fairly important Extremely important Do not know
Procuring organizations to disclose the declaration of assets and income made by public servants involved in public procurement periodically
Procuring organizations to have regulations requiring public servants to report the gift giving/receiving
Procuring organizations to have clearly defined value limits of gifts that public servants can receive
Procuring organizations to periodically inspect, monitor reports on gift giving/receiving and disclose results
Procuring organizations to enhance transparency in the process of making decisions and actions relating to personal interests
Procuring organizations to require the beneficial ownership of contractor/supplier/service provider/ consultant in bids and disclose the same after contract award in public domain
Procuring organizations to have code of ethics for procurement officials
Procuring organizations to mandate a declaration to be signed by bidders/ contractor/supplier/service provider/ consultant including their personnel for no conflict of interest
Procuring organizations to mandate a “no conflict of interest” declaration to be signed by officials and other personnel of public entity involved in procurement implementation.
Procuring organizations to have a clear policy for handling conflict of interest situations
Bidder/ contractor/supplier/service provider/ consultant to have internal code of ethics and governance structure so as to avoid any conflict-of-interest situation
Procuring organizations to mandate remedial measures like suspension/debarment if false declaration of conflict of interest by a bidder or contractor/supplier/service provider/ consultant.
Procuring organizations to have policies or procedures to safeguard inside information, particularly privileged and confidential information, including those provided by bidders, to prevent its misuse/leakage by their employees.
A public procurement official voluntarily excluding him/herself before a panel is formed or appointed disclosing any conflict-of-interest or perceived/potential conflict of interest
Procuring organizations cancelling/revoking any procurement decision if the decision-making process was compromised by a proven conflict of interest or misconduct
Procuring organizations to have clear policy for public officials holding concurrent appointment with an external organization, or entering into employment after retirement from government service.

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