Selling to the Government
Most government purchases in Bangladesh are through a procurement process established in partnership with the World Bank. Technical and performance standards are established, tender notices published, and proposals reviewed in a structured manner, with proposals first reviewed for technical compliance and, for those that pass the technical review, on a price basis.
While intended to bring transparency to the procurement process, the system remains open to manipulation. Technical requirements can be written to direct purchases to the intended supplier or used to exclude proposals from unfavored companies. The window to submit proposals once a tender is released is often short, rewarding companies with inside knowledge of what is coming.
The DGDP oversees all military purchases, which are required by law to go through a Bangladeshi company, usually working in partnership with an overseas supplier.
U.S. companies bidding on Bangladeshi government tenders may also qualify for U.S. Government advocacy. A unit of the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA), the Advocacy Center, coordinates U.S. Government interagency advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. exporters bidding on public sector contracts with international governments and government agencies. The Advocacy Center works closely with our network of the U.S. Commercial Service worldwide and inter-agency partners to ensure that exporters of U.S. products and services have the best possible chance of winning government contracts. Advocacy assistance can take many forms but often involves the U.S. Embassy or other U.S. Government agencies expressing support for the U.S. bidders directly to the foreign government. Consult Advocacy for Foreign Government Contracts for additional information.