FG Mandates 14-Day Standstill in Public Procurement to Bolster Transparency
The Federal Government has instituted a mandatory 14-calendar-day standstill period for all public procurement contracts, a significant regulatory shift designed to enhance transparency and accountability within the award process. This directive mandates that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other procuring entities must allow this waiting period before finalising any contract.
Issued via a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, on August 6, 2026, the policy requires procuring entities to simultaneously notify all participating bidders of an intended contract award. This crucial window provides unsuccessful bidders with the opportunity to seek clarification, request debriefing, or lodge formal complaints before a contract is irrevocably concluded. The announcement was confirmed in a statement by Ngozi C. Anyaelezu, Acting Head of Public Relations at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
Dr. Adebowale A. Adedokun, Director-General of the BPP, has urged accounting officers across all government institutions to ensure strict adherence to this directive by Tenders Boards, Procurement Planning Committees, and procurement departments. The BPP clarifies that the standstill period is specifically intended to empower unsuccessful bidders to challenge or seek recourse regarding procurement decisions prior to contract finalisation.
Under the new protocol, once an award recommendation receives approval from the appropriate authority, a Notice of Intended Award must be disseminated concurrently to all bidders. Crucially, no contract agreement can be executed, and no Letter of Award can become effective until the 14-day standstill period has elapsed. This notice must clearly identify the successful bidder and specify the contract sum. Furthermore, it must explicitly inform unsuccessful bidders of their statutory rights to request debriefing or submit complaints in accordance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
The circular further directs procuring entities to address any complaints or protests received during the standstill period by adhering to the administrative review procedures outlined in the Public Procurement Act and relevant BPP guidelines. Should a complaint be lodged within this timeframe, all subsequent steps towards contract execution must be suspended, where applicable, pending the resolution of the matter. To ensure robust accountability, procurement officers are now obligated to maintain comprehensive records of all notices issued, complaints received, and actions taken throughout the process, serving as evidence of compliance.
Dr. Adedokun issued a stern warning that procuring entities failing to observe the mandatory standstill period risk facing administrative sanctions under the Public Procurement Act and other applicable regulations. Consequently, accounting officers have been directed to disseminate this directive to all relevant procurement committees, Tenders Boards, departments, and officers involved in public procurement. The BPP has confirmed that this requirement is applicable to both ongoing and future procurement activities and takes immediate effect, to be implemented in conjunction with the Public Procurement Act, 2007, existing procurement regulations, and other BPP directives. This measure is expected to significantly impact how businesses engage with government tenders, requiring legal and compliance teams to adapt their strategies and due diligence processes.
