Finance Ministry Defends Reversal of Unsolicited Proposals Policy

The Ministry of Finance defended its decision to reverse the annulment of the previous government’s Unsolicited Proposals Policy (USP Policy), stating that the move was intended to incorporate provisions within the Public Finance Regulations. State Minister Hussain Shaam Adam explained that the amended Public Finance Regulations, gazetted in September 2023, require all policies to align, leading to the repeal of the USP Policy. He noted that a regulation carries more legal weight than a policy, and the change followed advice from the Attorney General. Despite the repeal, the new regulations maintain similarities, allowing private parties to submit proposals for development projects under a three-stage evaluation system overseen by the Ministry of Finance. The amendment aligns with the government’s strategic development plan and emphasizes innovation, but also introduces a clause for direct awarding of works in certain circumstances.

The Ministry of Finance defended its decision to reverse the annulment of the previous government’s Unsolicited Proposals Policy (USP Policy), stating that the move was intended to incorporate provisions within the Public Finance Regulations. State Minister Hussain Shaam Adam explained that the amended Public Finance Regulations, gazetted in September 2023, require all policies to align, leading to the repeal of the USP Policy. He noted that a regulation carries more legal weight than a policy, and the change followed advice from the Attorney General. Despite the repeal, the new regulations maintain similarities, allowing private parties to submit proposals for development projects under a three-stage evaluation system overseen by the Ministry of Finance. The amendment aligns with the government’s strategic development plan and emphasizes innovation, but also introduces a clause for direct awarding of works in certain circumstances.

The Ministry of Finance defended its decision to reverse the annulment of the previous government’s Unsolicited Proposals Policy (USP Policy), stating that the move was intended to incorporate provisions within the Public Finance Regulations. State Minister Hussain Shaam Adam explained that the amended Public Finance Regulations, gazetted in September 2023, require all policies to align, leading to the repeal of the USP Policy. He noted that a regulation carries more legal weight than a policy, and the change followed advice from the Attorney General. Despite the repeal, the new regulations maintain similarities, allowing private parties to submit proposals for development projects under a three-stage evaluation system overseen by the Ministry of Finance. The amendment aligns with the government’s strategic development plan and emphasizes innovation, but also introduces a clause for direct awarding of works in certain circumstances.

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