On January 1st 2015, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce jointly published the latest version of the “Provisional Measures on the Management of Government Procurement of Services” (政府购买服务管理办法(暂行)).
The measures state that the government procurement policy should be implemented jointly with the reform of public service organizations, in order to promote the de-administratization of the relationship between government departments and public service organizations, and the transformation of these organizations in companies or social organizations.
The new regulations started being implemented in January 1st and point out that social organizations registered with the relevant authorities, public service organizations as well as companies registered with Industry and Commerce according to the law are able to apply for service procurement.
The measures aim at reinforcing the marketization of the way public services are delivered, build the capacities of social organizations in providing services, and increase competition between the organizations applying for service procurement.
