Public Procurement Service

The aim of this research is to address the issues of low precision in variable spraying within the existing farmland application system, whereby nozzles cannot be controlled independently and low pesticide utilisation is observed. A variable spraying system based on PTO protocol has been designed. The system comprises an STM32 microcontroller as the control core, including the host computer, multi-channel controller, electronic switch, and electromagnetic spray nozzle. The master control unit receives the spray amount set by the user and calculates the duty cycle of the corresponding nozzle, which is then sent to the multiplex controller in real time through CAN communication. The multiplex controller adjusts the on-off frequency and duty cycle of each electromagnetic nozzle in real time according to the duty cycle of the corresponding nozzle it receives, thus enabling the nozzles to be controlled independently. This study offers theoretical and technical support for the independent control of spray nozzles and the optimisation of pesticide utilisation for variable spray systems based on PTO protocols.

Large-scale public projects often experience delays and cost overruns, in part because they require extensive coordination between numerous organizations, both private and public. In this paper, we draw on the perspective of new institutionalism to explore differences between stakeholders in large-scale projects. We develop a topic modeling approach based on a state-of-the-art computational text analysis technique and apply it to a set of transcripts from parliamentary select committee hearings in the United Kingdom to uncover cultural-cognitive differences that reflect a variety of institutional logics. The application of this technique to four different projects reveals significant institutional differences between groups of actors. We argue that greater awareness of these institutional differences may support attempts to understand why large-scale projects experience such significant management challenges and how such challenges could be addressed. We use data for the period 2000–2019 from two different sectors, defence, and public transport.

Construction supervision is a key task that can confirm and inspect the project execution and support the creation of successful results. For the efficient performance of construction supervision, collecting various information necessary for the supervisor’s decision-making is a prerequisite, and the use of digital technology has recently been proposed as an alternative. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to present a roadmap for the step-by-step use of digital technology to improve the efficiency of construction supervision. This study was limited to the supervision of construction projects, which have a high proportion of contract volumes in the Korean construction industry and can directly affect people’s lives. This study reclassified Korea’s construction supervision works, collected data on the urgency and effectiveness of detailed works from various stakeholders, and derived a final roadmap using importance–performance analysis. The results of this study are expected to serve as basic guidelines that can be used when reviewing digital technologies that can be applied step by step to improve the efficiency of construction supervision work.

Introduction. Reforming in the public finance system aims to raise public access to budget information. The high level of corruption and large amounts of funds in the disposal of authorities, require that budget expenditures under the supervision of society. The overwhelming part of budget funds is spent through the procurement of goods, works and services. Procurement must be reasonable and transparent, which reduces the risks of non-targeting and inefficient spending of budget funds. The purpose of the article is to analyze the state of transparency of budget funds through the procurement of goods and services products, provide proposals for increasing the validity of expenditures. Results. It is proved that most of the expenditures are carried out through the purchase of goods, works and services. The analysis of types of procurement according to the criteria of competition and transparency has been carried out. The quantitative and cost structure of the types of procurement is analyzed and determined which proportion of procurement is published with justification. The data shows that indicate the imperfection of the form of substantiation of procurement and inadequate transparency of data on the validity of budget expenditures. Conclusions. The deficiencies in the reasonablement of procurement of goods, works and services for budget funds are determined and the directions of transparency increases by expanding information should be included in the procurement substantiation. The types of procurement that occupy a predominant part in quantitative and value terms are revealed. The disadvantages in the order of placement of procurement, which negatively affects the transparency of information are determined. It is proposed to supplement the content of the procurement substantiation in part of the explanation of prices and factors that affect the timeliness of procurement, as well as to introduce placement in the electronic procurement system to justify all types of procurement, regardless of their value. The proposed will promote the openness of budget information, the validity of expenditures and enhancement of responsibility of funds for their use.

The motivation of this paper is to identify the effect of treatment charge (TC) on LME (London Metal Exchange) copper prices. It is a fundamental variable as a supply side factor, because it is related to the smelting process and reflects the level of concentrates market tightness. To examine this question carefully, the regression model is applied. This paper finds a statistically significant negative link between TC and LME copper prices. It is found that a 10% increase in TC of copper decreases in copper return by 1.8%. Subsequently, the vector autoregression (VAR) model is introduced to consider the impact of TC to copper prices as a permanent effect. It is found that the negative impact of the TC to copper returns dies out quickly. The statistical estimation in this article will provide a good reference for future study.

This article visits the question of whether canceled warrants (CWs) have a positive effect on LME metal prices. To examine this question carefully, a regression model is applied. This paper finds a statistically significant positive link between CWs and LME metal prices, including aluminum, zinc, tin, and nickel. However, other metals such as copper and lead are not statistically significant. The second objective of the study is to identify the dynamic response of metal price returns for aluminum, zinc, tin, and nickel to an innovation in the CWs using VAR. It is found that the positive impact of the CWs on metal returns is transitory.

Large pine weevil (Hylobius abietis L.) damages different organs of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings in unclosed plantations, including foliage, buds, stem bark and roots. Simulated damage of respective organs, particularly debudding is one of the ways to evaluate qualitative and quantitative influence of such damage on tree condition.
 The aim of research was to evaluate the dependence of Scots pine seedlings mortality and height increment on artificial and large pine weevil caused bud damage.
 The growth of apical shoots of Scots pine seedlings was registered since the beginning of May to the end of June. Development of new shoots in seedlings with manually bud removal or large pine weevil damage started in beginning of May and continued in July.
 Mortality of Scots pine seedlings with 20% of lateral buds damaged did not differ from that in undamaged plants. The seedlings with apical and lateral buds manually removed as well as with apical and over 70% lateral buds damaged by large pine weevil have died in the year of treatment or damage. The seedlings with apical buds damaged as well as with apical and over 50% lateral buds damaged died in the 4th year after damage.
 Removal or damage up to 50% lateral buds did not affect the growth of Scots pine seedlings. Height increment of seedlings with apical buds manually removed or damaged by large pine weevil did not differ significantly in May and June of the year of treatment or damage. In July the height increment was statistically greater in the variant with manually removal of apical bud.
 Previously suggested scale of Scots pine seedlings bud damage satisfactory reflects the score of large pine weevil injuriousness.
 We can suggest that height increment in the next years after bud damage does not depend on damage way and intensity but mainly on ecological conditions.

This study was made possible through a consultancy paid for by Debswana Diamond Company Botswana (Pty) Ltd., and the authors are deeply thankful to the company for the opportunity.

This paper examines the measures and means used to fight against corruption in public procurement in Albania. Because public procurement is one of the key areas where the public sector and the private sector interact financially and this interaction is based on public money, it is a prime candidate for corrupt activity, cronyism and favoritism as well as outright bribery. The question marks that this paper raises are: what are the means used in the war against corruption in the public procurement field in Albania? Did they had any real impact or they just reshaped the ways of doing corruption? The main finding of this paper is that introduction of e-procurement system was one of the most appropriate means to fight corruption in Albania, because this system fixed one of the biggest problems of the Albanian Public Procurement system; lack of transparency. The electronic system is transparent, since it provides the increasing of information passing through it, and the most important, it enhances the responsibility in relations between the contracting authorities and economic operators, enabling a more effective and efficient use of the tax payers’ money.

Different approaches in creating mechanisms for efficient public procurements have been applied worldwide over the last decade. Among these, bundling of public procurement is seen as a potential efficiency boost in the practice in highly decentralized procurement environments. Nevertheless, the domain of public procurement efficiency is still at its infancy in academic terms. This study examines the effects of centralization of public procurement at the local self-government level in Serbia. In particular, the study explores various upsides and downsides of centralization. Reflective recommendations provide a sound base for public procurement policy holders at the level of local self-governments.