BUREAU OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
PRESS RELEASE
FG ENFORCES 14 DAY STANDSTILL PERIOD IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
The Federal Government has issued a strict directive requiring all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Procuring Entities to enforce a mandatory 14-Calendar-day standstill period before finalising any public procurement contract awards.
The directive is contained in a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, fnim, CON, with Ref. No. SGF.50/S.52/III/727 dated August 6, 2026.
According to the government, the decision is in furtherance to Government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, fairness and value-for-money.
To this end, the Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale A, Adedokun, FCIPS, has urged all Accounting Officers to ensure that all procurement planning committees, Tenders boards, and procurement departments comply with the rules.
He emphasised that subject to this circular, the standstill period provides unsuccessful bidders an opportunity to seek clarification, request debriefing or lodge complaints before a contract is concluded.
The notice must identify the successful bidder and contract sum, while informing unsuccessful bidders of their right to seek debriefing or submit complaints in line with the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
Under the directive, once a contract award recommendation is approved by the appropriate authority, a Notice of Intended Award must be issued simultaneously to all participating bidders.
No contract agreement is to be carried out, and no Letter of Award is to become effective, until the 14-day standstill period expires.
The circular further directs procuring entities to promptly address any complaint or protest received during the period in accordance with the administrative review procedures under the Public Procurement Act and relevant BPP guidelines.
Where a complaint is received within the standstill period, further actions relating to contract execution are to be suspended, where applicable, pending resolution of the complaint.
The government also directed procurement officers to maintain proper records of notices issued, complaints received and actions taken to demonstrate compliance with the requirement.
The DG warned that failure by a procuring entity to comply with the mandatory standstill period could attract administrative sanctions under the Public Procurement Act and other applicable regulations.
All Accounting Officers are directed to bring the circular to the attention of Tenders Boards, Procurement Planning Committees, Procurement Departments and all officers involved in public procurement, as the directive applies to ongoing and future procurement activities and takes immediate effect.
The circular is to be read alongside the Public Procurement Act, 2007, extant procurement regulations and directives issued by the BPP.
Signed:
Ngozi C. Anyaelezu
Ag. Head, Public Relations
Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)
October 22, 2026.
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