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Public Procurement in Thailand

Public procurement in Thailand is a major instrument for public service delivery, infrastructure development, and fiscal management across central government agencies, state-owned enterprises, and public institutions. As an upper middle-income economy in East Asia and the Pacific, Thailand operates a mature, centralized, and technology-driven procurement system with a strong emphasis on transparency, efficiency, and fiscal discipline.

The procurement framework is governed by comprehensive national legislation and is supported by a fully integrated electronic government procurement platform. Central oversight is provided by the Comptroller General’s Department, while sector-specific centralized purchasing arrangements exist in key areas such as public health.

Country & Economic Overview

International Memberships

• Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• World Trade Organization (WTO)

World Bank Country Page: http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/thailand

Public Procurement Institutional Framework

• Comptroller General’s Department (CGD): Central authority responsible for public procurement regulation, oversight, financial control, and operation of the national eProcurement system

The Comptroller General’s Department functions as both the regulatory authority and a central purchasing body for government procurement, ensuring standardized procedures and nationwide compliance.

Official Website: http://www.gprocurement.go.th/new_index.html

Central Purchasing Bodies (CPBs)

CPB Website: https://www.moph.go.th

Legal & Regulatory Framework

Public procurement in Thailand is governed by a unified national legal framework applicable to central government agencies and public entities.

• Public Procurement and Supplies Administration Act

Key Legal Sources:

• http://www.gprocurement.go.th

Procurement Procedures & Thresholds

• Procurement procedures and thresholds are defined under the Public Procurement and Supplies Administration Act and its implementing regulations
• Contract award information is mandatorily disclosed through the national procurement platform
• Procedures apply uniformly across goods, works, and services procurement

E-Procurement Environment

Thailand operates a centralized national electronic procurement system covering nearly all public procurement transactions.

• System Name: Thai Government Procurement (e-GP)
• Official Portal: http://www.gprocurement.go.th
• Launch Year: 2010

• Supports procurement planning, tender publication, electronic bidding, evaluation, reverse auctions, contract management, catalogues, and vendor management
• Government-owned and operated system
• Tender documents are downloadable, with document fees applicable in selected cases
• Uses United Nations Standard Products and Services Classification (UNSPSC)
• All procurement transactions are conducted electronically

Efficiency & Savings

• 100% of procurement value and transactions are conducted through the eProcurement system
• Estimated annual savings through eProcurement: USD 2.7 billion
• Estimated savings rate: 8.36% of total procurement cost estimates
• Savings calculated using data from the national e-GP database

Transparency, Statistics & Reporting

• Comprehensive procurement statistics are publicly available
• Contract awards, procurement plans, and spending data are published online
• Annual procurement and government spending reports are accessible

Key Resources:

• https://govspending.data.go.th/dashboard/5
• http://www.gprocurement.go.th

Sustainability & Green Public Procurement

Thailand’s public procurement framework does not currently mandate dedicated green public procurement strategies or targets. Sustainability considerations may be applied at the discretion of procuring entities within tender documentation.

Social & Ethical Considerations

• Procurement rules emphasize transparency, competition, and accountability
• No specific statutory quotas for women-owned or disadvantaged-group-owned businesses are defined within the procurement law
• Labor and ethical standards may be incorporated through tender conditions depending on project requirements

Practical Considerations for Suppliers

• Supplier registration on the Thai Government Procurement platform is mandatory
• Electronic tender submission is standard practice
• Understanding national procurement legislation and CGD procedures is essential
• Some procurements may involve document download fees

Public Procurement in Thailand is characterized by full digitalization, centralized oversight, and strong transparency mechanisms. The mature eProcurement infrastructure, comprehensive legal framework, and significant efficiency gains make Thailand one of the most advanced public procurement markets in the region.