Kanagawa city holds 1st public work auctions via Net

Japan Policy & Politics, Oct 15, 2001

YOKOSUKA, Japan, Oct. 10 Kyodo

The city of Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture held Internet-based auctions Wednesday to select contractors for public works projects.

Yokosuka, the first local government introducing electronic auctions, received bids via the Internet for three projects from a total of 92 companies, according to city officials.

The bids were automatically processed and the selected contractors and successful bids were instantly shown on a computer screen at a bidding office at the city hall.

The city is planning to expand Net auctions to cover all public works starting December and to include purchases of supplies and services beginning fiscal 2003, the officials said.

Until December, contractors will be selected via the Net for projects worth 10 million yen.