
Savings RO6.7 million in government procurement: Tender Board
Muscat: The Directorate General of Government Procurement at the General Secretariat of the Tender Board (GSTB) has achieved financial savings of around RO6,780,000 until the end of April due to efforts in rationalizing expenditures mainly in three categories - vehicles, information technology, and facilities management.
The list of contracts and projects implemented during the first quarter of 2025 included the unified framework contract for the purchase of desktop computers, laptops, and tablets, which contributed to achieving financial savings estimated at more than RO110,000.
The unified framework contract for the supply of light vehicles to government agencies was also signed, with financial savings of approximately RO205,000, and the framework contract for school student enrollment was signed in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, achieving financial savings of approximately RO116,000.
This was in addition to many projects in the information technology category, which saw financial savings of RO5.5 million, GSTB said in a release.
The Directorate also issued the second change order to extend the contract for the technical support project for the tax system, which contributed to achieving financial savings estimated at approximately RO10,000, as well as to lease the Oman Exports platform and activate the Oman Exports Center for a renewable period of one year, achieving financial savings of more than RO46,000
The directorate signed a new framework contract for the purchase and renewal of Microsoft education licenses for government educational institutions, with financial savings exceeding RO25,000, and a control operations management system, with financial savings approaching RO219,000.
The directorate contributed to concluding a group of framework contracts with government agencies that enhanced the efficiency of purchasing operations by standardizing prices and simplifying procedures, including
central agreement for Microsoft software licenses for government institutions, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology, the framework contract for school student enrollment, and the framework contract for textbook printing services, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.
The directorate's efforts also succeeded in reducing the purchasing documentation cycle by more than 70 percent and accelerating the pace of government contracting, and also contributed to enhancing local content by giving preference to local companies and small and medium-sized enterprises, which helped support the national economy and develop local production capacities.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Observer
5 days ago
- Observer
AI agents will soon assist you in real life
Eid holidays are just a few days away. Some people and families are planning to travel, while others just plan to search and book local hotels and for some activities that they and their children could engage in around the city as a retreat. I know for a fact that I personally need a quick getaway plan immediately after Eid to refresh, re-energise, and prepare for the remaining engagements set for the next balance months (the second half of the year). The good news is that all this (search and booking) is now virtually possible today on the information superhighway (the internet). The bad news is that it would require one to research so as to spend a considerable amount of time in order to have an ideal plan created. For the executives or the likes, this may be an easy affair via their personal assistant. For the rest, it's a tedious manual activity that one cannot avoid, unfortunately. Wouldn't it be just awesome if there were a digital assistant or helper who could fulfil the service for you? Welcome to Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents. What are they and how do they work? is what I will focus on in my article today. First things first, let me clarify that AI agents are not chatbots or voice assistants (like Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, Microsoft's Cortana, and Samsung's Bixby). AI agents are digital assistants/helpers that go beyond just responding to user inputs/prompts where they actually act proactively and not reactively to user/your requests per se. Simply, they understand what you want (as in your goals) and find out ways (as programmed via logic) on what to do to get you the ideal results (for your goals). The typical AI consumer apps that many use today (e.g., ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claudia, etc.) are based on LLMs (Large Language Models), yet AI agents are powered by LLMs. They are proactive (don't wait for you to ask things) but instead get things/tasks done for you. Examples include reading your emails, reviewing your calendar, scheduling meetings in advance, analysing and summarising reports, and/or making decisions on your behalf using a logic (programmed or taught to them). The sky is the limit on what these AI agents can do for you, and time will prove their worthiness (as you are witnessing today with ChatGPT and similar apps). How do these AI agents actually work? Quite simply, you set a goal, and it goes out to get it or them done for you. For example, referring to my wish at the beginning of the article today on a getaway travel plan, I would set a plan via the AI agent as 'Look for the best hotel deals in Indonesia under a specific budget X and closer to specific attraction X.' Obviously I will share the budget in mind and a few attractions I have heard of or been recommended. The AI agent would, in return, break down the query/input into smaller actions, surf the web, summarise if it found anything via the links generated, probably draft an email, communicate and negotiate with the hotel(s) and attraction(s) in question, reflect on the outcome received, and return with a recommendation (and sometimes even decide and take action for you, as you had programmed it/them to do). What more? These AI agents can also talk with other AI agents and support one another to get you the final result. Pretty cool? Yes, and trust me, it's not part of a science fiction movie but rather a reality in the making. AI agents are quite new and in the early stages of their full potential. Human intervention and/or supervision may still be required at times to ensure it works and is trained correctly. Nevertheless, like at the beginning of the consumer AI apps of the likes of ChatGPT and the rest, I expect AI agents to mature and become extremely useful in the coming year or so, where almost everyone (including myself) will have a digital helper at the office and/or at home, supporting 24/7 on every and any task, including Eid holiday getaways that I mentioned at the beginning of the article this week. Until we catch up again, I wish you a blessed and happy Eid Mubarak.


Observer
25-05-2025
- Observer
Nama expands water network in Al Wusta
HAIMA: Nama Water Services is rolling out a series of vital water infrastructure projects across Al Wusta Governorate to ensure sustainable supply for local communities. Eng Ahmed bin Hamoud al Rawahi, Director of Operations and Maintenance for Al Wusta, said that a key project underway in Al Lakbi (Wilayat of Al Jazir) includes 18.5 km of pipeline and 250 household connections. The initiative, costing over RO 300,000, will benefit about 1,300 residents and is due for completion this year. Additionally, three projects have been awarded for the Wilayat of Mahout, covering the areas of Najda, Khalouf and Sarab. Spanning a total of 66 km and comprising 1,000 connections, these projects are set to serve around 5,000 people at a combined cost of RO 1.5 million. Completion is expected by early 2027. In another development, Nama Wastewater Services has signed an agreement to build a desalination plant and distribution network in southern Ghubrah (Wilayat of Al Jazir), in collaboration with Petroleum Development Oman. This project will serve about 170 homes, benefitting nearly 1,000 people, with a total investment of RO 500,000. Design work begins this year and construction is slated for 2026 under a three-year implementation plan. Al Rawahi added that further water and sanitation projects are under review and will be announced based on priorities and funding availability. — ONA


Observer
22-05-2025
- Observer
‘Muharrik' platform to drive digital education
MUSCAT: The 'Muharrik' platform represents an entrepreneurial initiative that leverages augmented reality (AR) technologies for digital learning, offering innovative educational solutions based on interactive 3D models that have significantly improved students' academic performance. Ziyad bin Salim al Hinai said that the idea for the platform emerged during his studies in the United States, where he faced several academic and personal challenges. However, these challenges helped refine his entrepreneurial skills and avoid future mistakes. He noted that the platform originated from a personal desire to enhance digital learning tools and provide an engaging educational environment. He added that this challenge motivated him to seek innovative educational solutions, ultimately leading to the adoption of augmented reality technology. AR enables the transformation of abstract information into interactive 3D models, simplifying comprehension and stimulating learning. Al Hinai explained that AR technology allows complex concepts to be presented in a visual, three-dimensional format, accelerating understanding and retention. The platform has expanded its use of AR into other fields, such as museums, engineering and healthcare, collaborating with international companies to train medical personnel. He pointed out that the platform's trials have demonstrated a tangible impact on improving education. An experiment involving early-grade students using fourth-grade tailored content showed a 54-per cent improvement in academic achievement, confirming the technology's effectiveness in simplifying scientific concepts and making them more engaging. Al Hinai emphasised that the support provided by Oman Technology Fund was pivotal, not only financially but also through training workshops and knowledge mentoring, which enhanced the team's entrepreneurial capabilities and helped turn the idea into a viable and sustainable project. He added that 'Muharrik' is currently finalising a direct partnership with the Ministry of Education to promote the use of AR technology in schools. The platform also aims to expand into Arab and global markets by exporting digital educational content rather than importing it. Notably, the platform has received international awards and recognition from the Unicef and the Generation Unlimited initiative, marking a turning point in the company's trajectory and boosting the team's confidence to grow further. This recognition also helped attract its first investor, the Oman Technology Fund. - ONA