RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE GPA/IC/W/13
11January 1995
ORGANIZATION
(95-0029)
Interim Committee onGovernment Procurement Original: English
APPLICATION FOR ACCESSION TOTHE AGREEMENT ONGOVERNMENT
PROCUREMENT AND REQUEST FOR OBSERVER STATUS
INTHE INTERIM COMMITTEE
Liechtenstein
Thefollowing communication, dated 12December 1994, hasbeenreceived from theHead
oftheGovernment ofthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein withtherequest thatitbecirculated tothe
Signatories totheAgreement onGovernment Procurement (1994).
_______________
Ihavethehonour toinform youthattheGovernment ofthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein is
interested inacceding tothenewly concluded Agreement onGovernment Procurement (AGP) 1994
andisready toenterintonegotiations withtheSignatories tothesaidAgreement. Inorder toacquaint
itself already atthisstage withthenewAgreement onGovernment Procurement andtheactivities of
theInterim Committee onGovernment Procurement, andespecially inviewofthenegotiations totake
place withtheSignatories totheAgreement, theGovernment ofthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein would
liketoaskthemembers oftheInterim Committee onGovernment Procurement togrant Liechtenstein
observer status intheCommittee (pursuant todecision GPA/IC/M/1, paragraph 4).
Iforward hereby anofferbywayofappropriate Appendices aswellasanexplanation ofthe
current government procurement régime inthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein andIwould appreciate
itverymuch ifyoucould kindly circulate thiscommunication andthisdraftoffer fortheattention
oftheSignatories totheAgreement onGovernment Procurement (AGP) 1994.GPA/IC/W/13
Page2
MEMORANDUM
TheCurrent Government Procurement Régime inthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein
Since 1992-following acommunication oftheSwiss Confederation, dated 12March 1992 -
theTokyo Round Agreement onGovernment Procurement applied alsotothePrincipality of
Liechtenstein, onthebasis oftheCustoms Union Treaty between thetwocountries.
Represented bySwitzerland, Liechtenstein hasparticipated intheUruguay Round negotiations
andalsointhose concerning therevision ofthegovernment procurement agreement. Theentities of
Liechtenstein areincluded inthefinalSwiss offerongovernment procurement. Liechtenstein became
acontracting party totheGATT on29March 1994 and,bysigning theAgreement Establishing the
World Trade Organization inMarrakesh, hasexpressed itsintention tobecome afounding member
oftheWTO. Asaconsequence ofthis,Liechtenstein desires tobecome anindependent Party tothe
newAgreement onGovernment Procurement aswell.
Liechtenstein submits totheSignatories oftheAgreement onGovernment Procurement anentity
list,which includes therelevant procurement entities intheareas ofgoods, services andconstruction.
Annex 1mentions theGovernment ofthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein. Annex 2includes thePublic
Authorities andbodies governed bypublic lawandnothaving anindustrial orcommercial character
atthelocallevel. Annex 3contains entities inconnection withtheproduction, transport ordistribution
ofdrinking water andelectricity. Itfurther includes entities providing services tothepublic inthe
fieldofpublic transport bybus. AsLiechtenstein doesnothaveairports orharbours, there areno
entities mentioned inthese fields.
Asfarasthesame areas ofpublic procurement areconcerned, Liechtenstein would liketo
include entities under theGATT Agreement onGovernment Procurement thatareidentical tothose
under theAgreement ontheEuropean Economic Area (EEA). Liechtenstein sofarhassigned, but
notratified, theEEAAgreement. TheLiechtenstein Government wishes toratify theEEAAgreement
asearly aspossible in1995.GPA/IC/W/13
Page3
ACCESSION OFCONTRACTING PARTIES TOTHE NEW GOVERNMENT
PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT, GPA (GPR/M/1, ANNEX 1)
Offer ofthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein
Without prejudice
1. Attached istheconditional offer ofthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein inrespect ofitsfuture
accession totheGPA.
2. Having regard totherelevant provisions oftheGPA, inparticular Articles IandIII,theoffer
includes listsofentities aswellascovered services (including construction services) byway
ofappropriate annexes (Appendix I).Aswellattached areAppendices II,IIIandIVwhich
contain therelevant publications.
3. ThePrincipality ofLiechtenstein reserves therighttomake technical changes tothisofferand
tocorrect anyerrors, omissions orinaccuracies.
ThePrincipality ofLiechtenstein isready toholdconsultations withtheParties ontheterms of
itsaccession totheAgreement.GPA/IC/W/13
Page4
APPENDIX I
ThisAppendix contains fiveAnnexes aswellasGeneral Notes andDerogations fromArticle III
oftheGPA.GPA/IC/W/13
Page5
ANNEX 1
Central Government Entities which Procure inAccordance With
theProvisions ofthisAgreement
Supplies Threshold: SDR 130,000
Services (specified inAnnex 4) Threshold: SDR 130,000
Construction services (specified inAnnex 5) Threshold: SDR 5,000,000
ListofEntities:
Government ofthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein
NotetoAnnex 1
TheAgreement shallnotapply tocontracts awarded bycontracting authorities inthefieldofdrinking
water, energy, transport ortelecommunications.GPA/IC/W/13
Page6
ANNEX 2
Sub-Central Entities which Procure inAccordance With
theProvisions ofthisAgreement
Supplies Threshold: SDR 200,000
Services (specified inAnnex 4) Threshold: SDR 200,000
Construction services (specified inAnnex 5) Threshold: SDR 5,000,000
ListofEntities:
1. Public Authorities atlocallevel
2. Bodies governed bypublic lawandnothaving anindustrial orcommercial character atthe
locallevel.
NotetoAnnex 2
TheAgreement shallnotapply tocontracts awarded bycontracting authorities inconnection with
activities inthefieldofdrinking water, energy, transport ortelecommunications.GPA/IC/W/13
Page7
ANNEX 3
AllOther Entities which Procure inAccordance With
theProvisions ofthisAgreement
Supplies Threshold: SDR 400,000
Services Threshold: SDR 400,000
Works (specified inAnnex 5) Threshold: SDR 5,000,000
ListofEntities:
Thecontracting entities which arepublic authorities1orpublic undertakings2andwhich have
asatleastoneoftheiractivities anyofthose referred tobelow:
1. theprovision oroperation offixed networks intended toprovide aservice tothepublic in
connection withtheproduction, transport ordistribution ofdrinking water orthesupply of
drinking water tosuchnetworks (asspecified under titleI);
1Public authorities means theState, regional orlocalauthorities, bodies governed bypublic law,
orassociations formed byoneormore ofsuchauthorities orbodies governed bypublic law. Abody
isconsidered tobegoverned bypublic lawwhere it:
- isestablished forthespecific purpose ofmeeting needs inthegeneral interest, notbeing
ofanindustrial orcommercial nature;
- haslegalpersonality; and
- isfinanced forthemost partbytheState, orregional orlocal authorities, orother
bodiesgovernedbypubliclaw,orissubjecttomanagementsupervisionbythosebodies,
orhasanadministrative, managerial orsupervisory board more thanhalfofwhose
members areappointed bytheState, regional orlocal authorities, orother bodies
governed bypublic law.
2Public undertakings means anyundertaking overwhich thepublic authorities mayexercise directly
orindirectly adominant influence byvirtue oftheirownership ofit,theirfinancial participation therein,
ortheruleswhich govern it.Adominant influence onthepartofthepublic authorities shallbepresumed
when these authorities, directly orindirectly, inrelation toanundertaking:
- holdthemajority oftheundertaking 'ssubscribed capital; or
- control themajority ofthevotes attaching toshares issued bytheundertaking; or
- canappoint more thanhalfofthemembers oftheundertaking 'sadministrative,
managerial orsupervisory body.GPA/IC/W/13
Page8
2. theprovision oroperation offixed networks intended toprovide aservice tothepublic in
connection withtheproduction, transport ordistribution ofelectricity orthesupply ofelectricity
tosuchnetworks (asspecified under titleII);
3. theoperation offixed networks providing aservice tothepublic inthefieldoftransport by
urbanrailway,automatedsystems,tramway,trolleybus,busorcable(asspecifiedundertitleIII);
4. theexploitation ofageographical areaforthepurpose oftheprovision ofairport orother
terminal facilities tocarriers byair(asspecified under titleIV);
5. theexploitation ofageographical areaforthepurpose oftheprovision ofinland portorother
terminal facilities tocarriers byseaorinland waterway (asspecified under titleV).
I. Production, transport ordistribution ofdrinking water
Public authorities andpublic undertakings producing, transporting anddistributing drinking
water. Suchpublic authorities andpublic undertakings areoperating under locallegislation orunder
individual agreements based thereupon.
- Gruppenwasserversorgung Liechtensteiner Oberland
- Gruppenwasserversorgung Liechtensteiner Unterland
II. Production, transport ordistribution ofelectricity
Public authorities andpublic undertakings fortheproduction, transport anddistribution of
electricity operating onthebasis ofauthorizations forexpropriation pursuant tothe"Gesetz vom
16.Juni1947 betreffend die"Liechtensteinischen Kraftwerke" (LKWG)".
- Liechtensteinische Kraftwerke
III. Contracting entities inthefieldofurban railway, automated systems, tramway, trolley
bus,busorcable services
Liechtensteinische Post-, Telefon- undTelegrafenbetriebe (PTT)
according to"Vertrag vom 9.Januar 1978 zwischen dem Fürstentum Liechtenstein undder
Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft überdieBesorgung derPost-undFernmeldedienste imFürstentum
Liechtenstein durch dieSchweizerischen Post-, Telefon- undTelegrafenbetriebe (PTT).
IV. Contracting entities inthefieldofairport facilities
NoneGPA/IC/W/13
Page9
Notes toAnnex 3
ThisAgreement shallnotapply:
1. tocontracts which thecontracting entity awards forpurposes other thanthepursuit oftheir
activities asdescribed inthisAnnex.
2. tocontracts awarded forpurposes ofre-sale orhiretothirdparties, provided thatthecontracting
entity enjoys nospecial orexclusive righttosellorhirethesubject ofsuchcontracts andother
entities arefreetosellorhireitunder thesame conditions asthecontracting entity.
3. tocontracts forthepurchase ofwater.
4. tocontracts ofcontracting entities otherthanapublic authority exercising thesupply ofdrinking
water orelectricity tonetworks which provide aservice tothepublic, iftheyproduce these
services bythemselves andconsume themforthepurpose ofcarrying outother activities than
those described under thisAnnex under IandIIandprovided thatthesupply tothepublic
network depends onlyontheentity 'sownconsumption anddoesnotexceed 30percentof
theentity 'stotalproduction ofdrinking water orenergy, having regard totheaverage forthe
preceding three years.
5. tocontracts forthesupply ofenergy oroffuelsfortheproduction ofenergy.
6. tocontracts awarded bycontracting entities providing abusservice ifother entities arefree
toofferthesameservice either ingeneral orinaspecific geographical areaandunder thesame
conditions.GPA/IC/W/13
Page10
ANNEX 4
Services
The following services from theservices sectoral classification listcontained in
document MTN.GNS/W/120 areincluded:
Subject
Maintenance andrepair services 6112, 6122, 633,886
Land transport services, including armoured carservices, 712(except 71235),
andcourier services, except transport ofmail 7512, 87304
Airtransport services ofpassengers andfreight, except 73(except 7321)
transport ofmail
Transport ofmailbyland, except rail,andbyair 71235, 7321
Telecommunications services 7523
Financial services ex81
(a) Insurance services 812,814
(b) Banking andinvestment services4
Computer andrelated services 84
Accounting, auditing andbookkeeping services 862
Market research andpublic opinion polling services 864
Management consulting services andrelated services 865,8665
Architectural services; engineering services and 867
integrated engineering services, urban planning and
landscape architectural services; related scientific and
technical consulting services; technical testing and
analysis services
3Except voice telephony, telex, radiotelephony, paging andsatellite services
4Except contracts forfinancial services inconnection withtheissue, sale,purchase, ortransfer
ofsecurities orother financial instruments, andcentral bankservices
5Except arbitration andconciliation servicesGPA/IC/W/13
Page11
Advertising services 871
Building-cleaning services andproperty management 874,82201-82206
services
Publishing andprinting services onafeeorcontract 88442
basis
Sewage andrefuse disposal; sanitation andsimilar services 94
Notes toAnnex 4
TheAgreement shallnotapply to:
1. service contracts awarded toanentity which isitself aprocuring entity listed inAnnex 1or
2onthebasis ofanexclusive right which itenjoys pursuant toapublished law,regulation
oradministrative provision.
2. service contracts which acontracting entity awards toanaffiliated undertaking orwhich are
awardedbyajointventureformedbyanumberofcontractingentitiesforthepurposeofcarrying
outanactivity within themeaning ofAnnex 3ortoanundertaking which isaffiliated with
oneofthesecontracting entities. Atleast80percentoftheaverage turnover ofthatundertaking
forthepreceding threeyears hastoderive fromtheprovision ofsuchservices toundertakings
withwhich itisaffiliated. Where more thanoneundertaking affiliated withthecontracting
entity provides thesame service, thetotalturnover deriving from theprovision ofservices
bythose undertakings shallbetaken intoaccount.
3. contracts fortheacquisition orrental, bywhatever means, ofland,existing buildings, orother
immovable property orconcerning rights thereon.
4. tocontracts ofemployment.
5. fortheacquisition, development, production orco-production ofprogramme material by
broadcasters andcontracts forbroadcasting time.GPA/IC/W/13
Page12
ANNEX 5
Construction Services
Definition:
Aconstructionservicescontractisacontractwhichhasasitsobjectivetherealizationbywhatever
means ofcivilorbuilding works, inthesense ofDivision 51oftheCentral Product Classification.
ListofDivision 51,CPC:
General construction work forbuildings 512
General construction work forcivilengineering 513
Installation andassembly work 514+516
Building completion andfinishing work 517
Other 511+515+518GPA/IC/W/13
Page13
GENERAL NOTES AND DEROGATIONS FROM THE PROVISIONS OFARTICLE III
1. ThePrincipality ofLiechtenstein willnotextend thebenefits ofthisAgreement:
- asregards theaward ofcontracts byentities listed inAnnex 2tothesuppliers and
service providers ofCanada andtheUnited States ofAmerica,
- asregards theaward ofcontracts byentities listed inAnnex 3inthefollowing sectors:
- water: tothesuppliers andservice providers ofCanada andtheUnited States
ofAmerica;
- electricity: tothesuppliers andservice providers ofCanada, Japan andthe
United States ofAmerica;
- urban transport: tothesuppliers andservice providers ofCanada, Israel, Japan,
Korea andtheUnited States ofAmerica
untilsuchtimeasthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein hasaccepted thattheParties concerned give
comparable andeffective access forundertakings ofthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein tothe
relevant markets;
- toservice providers ofParties which donotinclude service contracts fortherelevant
entities inAnnexes 1to3andtherelevant service category under Annexes 4and5
intheirowncoverage.
2. Theprovisions ofArticle XXshallnotapply tosuppliers andservice providers of:
- Israel, Japan andKorea incontesting theaward ofcontracts bybodies governed by
public lawandnothaving anindustrial orcommercial character listed inAnnex 2,
paragraph 2,untilsuchtimeasthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein accepts thattheyhave
completed coverage ofsub-central entities;
- Canada, Japan, Korea andtheUnited States ofAmerica incontesting theaward of
contracts toasupplier orservice provider ofParties other thanthose mentioned, which
aresmall- ormedium-sized enterprises under therelevant provisions ofthelawof
Liechtenstein untilsuchtimeasthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein accepts thattheyno
longer operate discriminatory measures infavour ofcertain domestic small andminority
businesses;
- Israel,JapanandKoreaincontestingtheawardofcontractsbyentitiesofthePrincipality
ofLiechtenstein, whose value islessthanthethreshold applied forthesame category
ofcontracts awarded bythese Parties.
3. Until suchtimeasthePrincipality ofLiechtenstein hasaccepted thattheParties concerned
provide access forsuppliers andservice providers totheirownmarkets, thePrincipality of
Liechtenstein willnotextend thebenefits ofthisAgreement tosuppliers andservice providers
of:GPA/IC/W/13
Page14
- Canada, asregards procurement ofFSC36,70and74(special industry machinery;
general purpose automatic dataprocessing equipment, software, supplies andsupport
equipment (except 7010 ADPE configurations); office machines, visible record
equipment andADP equipment);
- Canada, asregards procurement ofFSC58(communications, protection andcoherent
radiation equipment) andtheUnited States ofAmerica asregards airtraffic control
equipment;
- Korea andIsrael asregards procurement byentities listed inAnnex 3,paragraph (B)
asregards procurement ofHSNos8504, 8535, 8537and8544(electrical transformers,
plugs, switches andinsulated cables); andforIsrael, HSNos8501, 8536and902830;
- Canada andtheUnited States ofAmerica asregards contracts forgood orservice
components ofcontracts which, although awarded byanentity covered bythis
Agreement, arenotthemselves subject tothisAgreement.
4. TheAgreement shallnotapply tocontracts awarded under:
- aninternational agreement andintended forthejointimplementation orexploitation
ofaproject bysignatory States;
- theparticular procedure ofaninternational organization.
5. TheAgreement shallnotapply toprocurement ofagricultural products made infurtherance
ofagricultural support programmes andhuman feeding programmes.
6. Theprovision ofservices, including construction services, inthecontext ofprocurement
procedures according tothisAgreement issubject totheconditions andqualifications formarket
access andnational treatment aswillberequired bythePrincipality ofLiechtenstein in
conformity withitscommitments under theGATS.GPA/IC/W/13
Page15
APPENDIX II
PUBLICATIONS UTILIZED BYPARTIES FOR THE PUBLICATION
OFNOTICES OFINTENDED PROCUREMENTS -PARAGRAPH 1
OFARTICLE IX,AND OFPOST-AWARD NOTICES -
PARAGRAPH 1OFARTICLE XVIII
Daily Press: "Liechtensteiner Volksblatt", "Liechtensteiner Vaterland"GPA/IC/W/13
Page16
APPENDIX III
PUBLICATIONS UTILIZED BYPARTIES FOR THE PUBLICATION ANNUALLY OF
INFORMATION ONPERMANENT LISTS OFQUALIFIED SUPPLIERS INTHE CASE OF
SELECTIVE TENDERING PROCEDURES -PARAGRAPH 9OFARTICLE IX
Official Journal oftheEuropean Communities (after theentry intoforce ofthe
EEA Agreement forLiechtenstein)
(Currently nosuchlistsexist)GPA/IC/W/13
Page17
APPENDIX IV
PUBLICATIONS UTILIZED BYPARTIES FOR THE PUBLICATION OFLAWS,
REGULATIONS, JUDICIAL DECISIONS, ADMINISTRATIVE RULINGS OFGENERAL
APPLICATION AND ANY PROCEDURE REGARDING GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
COVERED BYTHIS AGREEMENT -PARAGRAPH 1OFARTICLE XIX
Landesgesetzblatt
Liechtensteinische Entscheidsammlung
(Laws, judicial decisions, administrative rulings andprocedures regarding government
procurement forentities listed inAnnexes 2and3ofAppendix Iareavailable either through
relevant localpublications ordirectly from thelisted entities.)