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ABSTRACT.
This paper analyzes the perceptions of Bangladeshi civil servants towards public procurement and contracting practices in Bangladesh. The interview method was used in the study to analyze the perceptions of the Bangladeshi civil servants towards public procurement and contract-related issues in Bangladesh. The study reveals that civil servants of Bangladesh have diverse and varying perceptions towards public procurement and contracting practices in Bangladesh, even though they share some commonalities. The results of the survey demonstrate that a majority of the civil servants are in general familiar with public purchasing in Bangladesh. While earlier research depicted that almost all the civil servants in the US public agencies were found quite familiar with contracting and outsourcing this study shows that less than a moderate percentage of the civil servants of Bangladesh is quite or pretty familiar with contracting and/or outsourcing.
INTRODUCTION
Since the adoption of privatization as an economic policy reform in 1976, public procurement by contractual means in Bangladesh has been increasing day by day. Public procurement in Bangladesh embraces government's activities of purchasing, hiring or obtaining of goods, works or services by any contractual means (Government of Bangladesh, 2003). Contracting out has been used as a key method or form of privatization for the past few decades (Ban, 1998; Blendermann, Ormsby, Sharp & Zimmerman, 2004; Farazmand, 2001; Mann, McMillin, Rienzi & Eviston, 1995; Sapat, 1999; Savas, 2000). Like in the United States and many developed countries (see Romzek & Johnston, 2005; Savas, 2000), governments at both local and central levels have expanded the range of service deliveries through procurement by contracts.
Various government agencies or procurement entities, especially the ministries, divisions, departments/directorates, and other autonomous/semi-autonomous bodies or corporations in Bangladesh often acquire/purchase goods, services or works by contractual means (Government of Bangladesh, 2003). Although restricted tendering method or direct procurement method can be used for some specific reasons, procurement and contracts in Bangladesh often take place through open competitive biddings (GOB, 2003). Supporters of contracting out argue that contracting out of the goods or services of public sector enhances efficiency, reduces service or production costs/expenditure (Steel & Long, 1998, p. 230; Brown & Potoski, 2003, p. 154; Boyne, 1998), improves service quality, enhances performance and production (Boyne, 1998; Brown & Potoski, 2003), and...