dgMarket for Governments

Improving the efficiency of government procurement is a complex issue in all countries. But not all solutions are complex. Studies show that using the Internet to post tenders online increases the number of bidders for government contracts and reduces contract costs.

Saving Government Resources

dgMarket offers an inexpensive but sophisticated solution for government agencies to save money and widen bidding opportunities to companies of all sizes. It can benefit agencies in any country without requiring extensive information technology systems in the “back-office” of the government’s procurement division.

• Any agency or government department can register to publish information directly into the global dgMarket system in one of 19 languages. Development Gateway Foundation can also help create automated data “harvesting” solutions to more easily integrate a government’s tender opportunities into the global database.
  
• Create a national or local tender publishing Web site based on the dgMarket system, in any language. This can be done in a matter of weeks. Locally-branded sites have been created in 11 countries, including both developing and developed countries. More are underway, with help from Development Gateway Foundation donors.

National Procurement Web Sites Based on dgMarket

A key objective of Development Gateway Foundation is to assist developing countries to create user-friendly national procurement Web sites at very low cost. The dgMarket technology, our partnership approach and strong interest from Development Gateway Foundation's own donors help us do this. Visit Rwanda for an example.

Benefits

• Deploys a local/national system in any language quickly and at low cost
• Employs advanced features for business users, similar to leading government tender information systems in developed countries
• Publishes tender notices, revisions, clarifications, contract awards, bidding documents and other files
• Allows direct Web entry by purchasers across many different agencies
• Allows data exchange with other tender information systems, e.g. provincial and local level
• Standardizes procurement terminology in line with other countries
• Automatically translates tender summaries into all dgMarket languages
• Connects national procurement opportunities to an existing international business audience focused on government procurement needs, where allowable/applicable
• Protects sensitive customer information with high-level security and encryption
• Bases user interface on open source software that is licensed permanently to the partner
• May be integrated into larger financial management and procurement systems

How it Works

For each local implementation of dgMarket, Development Gateway Foundation provides the local partner with interactive Web software technology based on open source code, a hosted platform, and the dgMarket publishing model. We provide technical assistance to create the Web site and brand it appropriately for the partner, if this is needed.

Technical support is performed by local partners, which include governments, our Country Gateway associates and private companies. The partners then take over site ownership, including management, local data input, and local user support for the service.

Partner Web sites are connected to the dgMarket global database. This provides two key benefits: business users of the local Web sites have easy access to both local and global contract opportunities within one site; and the cost of operating and maintaining the database remains with Development Gateway Foundation, not the developing countries.

Revenue Supporting the Global Good

Development Gateway Foundation also benefits from the integration of all countries' tender information within one system. The more tender information we gather, the more business users will want to use this convenient service. While basic information on all tenders in dgMarket is provided for free, a $50 monthly subscription fee for more detailed information helps Development Gateway Foundation cover costs and expand our nonprofit work for the benefit of developing countries.

Revenue-sharing arrangements are in place with many local partners. But we recognize that governments may not wish to charge user fees for access to national procurement information on their official Web sites. If dgMarket is used to create an official site, a special partnership agreement with Development Gateway Foundation can be accommodated. Please click here to make a donation to support the work of the Development Gateway Foundation.