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Public Procurement in Jordan

Public Procurement in Jordan plays a strategic role in public financial management, service delivery, and national development. As a lower middle-income economy with a strong reform agenda, Jordan relies on public procurement to implement infrastructure projects, deliver essential public services, and support economic stability across key social and productive sectors.

Government tenders in Jordan are regulated through a unified legal and institutional framework that applies to central government entities and is increasingly supported by digital procurement tools. The procurement system emphasizes transparency, competition, value for money, and alignment with international good practices, reflecting Jordan’s engagement with multilateral development partners.

For domestic suppliers and international firms, the Jordanian public procurement market offers structured access to public contracts across construction, goods supply, and professional services - particularly in sectors supported by public investment and development financing.

Country & Economic Overview

Public procurement expenditure represents a meaningful share of economic activity in Jordan and is a key channel for executing budgetary allocations, donor-supported projects, and sectoral investment programs.

Public Procurement Governance Framework

Jordan’s public procurement system is governed through specialized institutions with clearly defined mandates at the national level.

• Government Tenders Department (GTD) - responsible for major public works and centralized tenders, operating under the Ministry of Public Works and Housing
• Government Procurement Department (GPD) - responsible for goods and services procurement under the Ministry of Finance

Both GTD and GPD function as central purchasing bodies with nationwide coverage and sector-wide responsibilities spanning agriculture, health, education, transport, water, energy, ICT, public administration, and social protection.

Legal & Regulatory Framework

Public procurement law in Jordan is primarily governed by Bylaw No. 8 of 2022 and the Instructions for Regulating Government Procurement Procedures (2022). This framework standardizes procurement practices across government entities.

Core Legal Principles

• Value for Money (VfM)
• Fair competition and equal opportunity
• Transparency and public disclosure
• Integrity and accountability

Key Regulatory Provisions

• Total Cost of Ownership and Life Cycle Costing considerations
• Use of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT)
• Bid securities and bid validity requirements
• Mandatory SME participation considerations
• Domestic preference and local sourcing provisions

The law also defines procedures for emergency procurement and explicitly excludes certain donor-funded projects from national procurement rules where agreed frameworks apply.

Procurement Procedures & Thresholds

Procurement timelines and procedural requirements are clearly regulated:

• Advertisement periods defined in procurement instructions
• Bid validity periods standardized across goods, works, and services
• Standstill periods applicable to all contract categories
• Complaint resolution period set at 25 days on average

E-Procurement System in Jordan

The eProcurement system in Jordan is the Jordan Online E-Procurement System (JONEPS), a government-owned and operated digital platform launched in 2018.

JONEPS supports Arabic and English languages, operates in Jordanian Dinar, US Dollar, and Euro, and follows a proprietary government-built model. The platform is supported by the World Bank but is not used as a World Bank procurement system.

Procurement Market Characteristics

Jordan’s public procurement market covers a broad range of contract types and sectors.

• Annual tenders: 446 (USD 716.7 million)
• Annual contracts: 511 (USD 291.4 million)
• Goods contracts: Dominant by volume and value
• Services contracts: Active participation, particularly consulting

Domestic suppliers account for the majority of awards, while international participation is limited and typically linked to specialized or donor-supported contracts.

Evaluation methods include:

• Lowest Price method (dominant)
• MEAT and quality-based evaluation (selectively applied)

Transparency, Complaints & Oversight

Jordan’s procurement system includes formal mechanisms for oversight and accountability.

• Public bid openings regulated by law
• Administrative complaint review processes
• Disclosure of contract awards through JONEPS

Procurement statistics and dashboards are publicly accessible through the national eProcurement platform, supporting transparency and market confidence.

Sustainability & Green Public Procurement

Jordan has integrated sustainability principles into its procurement framework. Green public procurement is supported through legal definitions linking sustainability to:

• Energy efficiency and renewable energy use
• Water conservation
• Waste reduction and recycling

While green procurement practices are promoted and applied in selected sectors such as energy, water, and construction, they are not universally mandatory across all procurements.

Social & Ethical Procurement Considerations

The public procurement framework in Jordan includes explicit social policy objectives:

• Minimum award targets for women-owned businesses (2%)
• Minimum award targets for disadvantaged groups (1%)
• Mandatory compliance with international labor standards
• Local sourcing requirements for core components (15%)

These provisions aim to align procurement spending with inclusive economic development and ethical supply chain practices.

Key Challenges & Practical Insights for Bidders

Bidders engaging in government tenders in Jordan should consider the following practical factors:

• Strong procedural compliance requirements
• Mandatory use of the national eProcurement system
• High competition in goods contracts
• Documentation and bid security obligations

Practical bidding tips

1. Complete JONEPS vendor registration early
2. Closely review bylaw-specific clauses referenced in tender documents
3. Prepare compliant bid securities and validity statements
4. Monitor award disclosures and procurement statistics regularly

Overall, Public Procurement in Jordan offers a regulated, transparent, and reform-oriented procurement environment suitable for suppliers seeking structured access to public sector contracting opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa.