Ministry of Russia has made to the Government of the Russian Federation the draft of the Federal law "On amendments to the Federal law "On contract system in procurement of goods, works, services for ensuring the state and municipal needs" and article 1 of the Federal law "On amendments to the Federal law "On contract system in procurement of goods, works, services for state and municipal needs".
According to the press service of the Ministry of Regional Development, the bill will allow small entrepreneurs registered and operating in the Far North and equivalent areas to participate on preferential terms in public procurement for the supply of goods or services in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation.
The document was developed by the Ministry of Regional Development in order to implement the provisions of the National Program of Socio-economic Development of the Far East for the period up to 2024 and for the future up to 2035.
Under the bill, if an entrepreneur working in the far North, will offer during the auction the lowest price will be the winner, for the suggested price will be added up to 15% (the total contract price still may not be higher than the maximum price under the procurement documentation, and thus increased the cost regions, this solution will not). Knowing this, an entrepreneur from the Far North will be able to bid at a lower price than competitors from other regions.
The need for such a mechanism to support small businesses in the northern territories is due to the requirements of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation for employers to establish "northern allowances". When employing employees in the regions of the Far North, the business is obliged to provide social guarantees and compensation, payments for which are fully subject to insurance premiums. The rules for granting benefits when participating in public procurement, as well as the list of relevant goods, works, and services to which it will apply, will be approved by the Government of the Russian Federation.
"Today, more than 50 companies with projects worth more than 180 billion rubles have become residents of the Arctic zone. They will create 5 thousand new jobs. At the same time, about 80% of residents belong to small and medium-sized businesses. Therefore, systematic support for Arctic SMEs is one of the priorities of our work, " said Alexey Chekunkov, Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic.
The adoption of the draft law will contribute to the equalization of competition conditions and the socio-economic development of the northern territories. The mechanism is supported by the authorities of the regions, which include the regions of the Far North and the areas equated to them.