January 14: The Federation of Contractors' Associations of Nepal (FCAN) has urged the concerned authorities to amend the provision related to the public procurement regulation to allow only domestic contractors to bid for tenders of Rs 3 billion (excluding VAT). The federation has requested amendment of the Public Procurement Regulation 2064 to make such arrangements in order to promote domestic companies.

The federation submitted a memorandum during a meeting with Kalyani Kumari Khadka, chairperson of the Development and Technology Committee of the federal parliament on Thursday. FCAN President Ravi Singh said that the country has not been able to make strides in infrastructure development as the related laws and regulations are not construction-friendly.

While presenting the written suggestions, he said that the Nepali construction entrepreneurs should be awarded tenders worth Rs 3 billion. The federation has suggested including such provision in the 11th amendment to the Public Procurement Regulation.

Similarly, the federation has demanded to make arrangements for allowing a construction company to undertake a maximum of three contracts at a time for projects worth more than Rs 30 million and two contracts for projects less than Rs 30 million. Likewise, the federation has demanded that the contractors should be allowed to participate in additional bids only after the completion of 80 percent works of the projects they have undertaken.

 Chairperson Khadka has also been informed about the existing problems faced by the construction entrepreneurs and the solutions.