Arlington, VA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the State Government of Maharashtra have inaugurated an innovative, value-based training program for local Indian officials on best practices for life-cycle cost analysis to achieve greater value for infrastructure procurements. The training, which is provided under USTDA’s partnership with the State Government of Maharashtra under the Global Procurement Initiative: Understanding Best Value (GPI), is taking place in Mumbai, India from January 20-24.
“Our unique life-cycle cost analysis training is specifically structured to bolster Indian public procurement officials’ ability to achieve more sustainable and smarter investments,” said USTDA Acting Director Thomas Hardy. “The State of Maharashtra’s key infrastructure priorities will greatly benefit from this collaborative program.”
The training includes 40 procurement officials representing a range of the Maharashtra government, including the Transport Department, Public Works Department, Industrial Development Corporation and the Airport Development Company. The curriculum was developed by USTDA in partnership with practitioners and university professors in the United States with extensive procurement experience in government, the private sector and higher education.
“I would like to commend USTDA for organizing this cross-departmental training program for procurement officers of the State Government under the Global Procurement Initiative. The transition from a rules-based approach to principle-based approach is the hallmark of the life-cycle cost framework,” said Mr. Ashish Singh, Principal Secretary of the State Government of Maharashtra. “Value for money and adaptability are the guiding principles, with special emphasis on the fundamentals of contracting, namely transparency, procurement integrity and preference for none. The officers of various departments who got trained will now be able to apply these principles in their Departmental procurement process.”
“This partnership reflects the close cooperation between the United States and the Maharashtra government. We are proud to work with the State of Maharashtra in integrating best-value determinations into public tenders, as well as foster fair and transparent international competition and promote the long-term professionalization of the procurement workforce,” said David J. Ranz, Consul General at the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai.
Launched in 2013, USTDA’s Global Procurement Initiative: Understanding Best Value assists public officials in emerging economies better understand the total cost of ownership of goods and services for infrastructure projects. The Initiative includes 11 partner countries and is currently reviewing requests from additional countries to join.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
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