LIMS has unveiled a policy brief under the APPLE C program (Apply Public Procurement Law to End Corruption), highlighting systematic breaches and manipulative tactics by various Lebanese ministries to evade the Public Procurement Law. These ministries often favor pre-selected cronies while discouraging genuine competition. One method involves ministers announcing tenders at the last minute, making it virtually impossible for other bidders to participate due to the restricted timeframe. This is achieved by (1) failing to publish annual procurement plans and (2) deliberately shortening the deadlines for tender announcements. Moreover, when tenders are finally announced, they frequently lack comprehensive and pertinent information. Ministries also often find reasons to reject bids, further skewing the process. LIMS asserts that these practices not only facilitate corruption by eliminating competition but also result in single-bidder scenarios, which cost the economy millions of dollars and significantly erode public trust in Lebanon’s institutions.

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