A man gathers a stack of banknotes at Bangkok Bank’s headquarters on Silom Road. (Bangkok Post file photo)

The Comptroller-General’s Department has reformed budget disbursement processes to expedite the injection of more than 4 trillion baht into the economy.

According to Patricia Mongkhonvanit, director-general of the department, in fiscal 2026 the total budget comprising both carried-over funds from previous fiscal years and the new budget for 2026 amounts to more than 4 trillion baht.

To enable government agencies to disburse funds more swiftly and efficiently, as well as ensure projects proceed according to their plans and targets, the ruling committee for public procurement and supplies administration established practical guidelines to expedite government spending and budget disbursement in fiscal 2026.

These measures aim to promote agility, efficiency and alignment with the government’s economic stimulus policies, with three key points referenced.

1. Reducing the time for publishing procurement documents. Government agencies may shorten the publication period for draft announcements and procurement documents under the e-bidding method, covering terms of reference, consultant hiring, design services, or construction supervision.

For instance, for projects valued between 500,000 baht and 10 million baht, the decision is at the discretion of the agency head.

For projects valued between 500,000 baht and 100 million baht, publication must last at least three business days.

For projects valued more than 100 million baht, publication must last at least 20 business days.

2. Allowing continuation of procurement with limited bidders. In cases where only one bidder submits a proposal, or where multiple bids are submitted but only one meets all the required conditions, if the electronic bidding evaluation committee deems it appropriate, the process may proceed.

3. Setting clear time frames for acceptance and inspection of goods or works. A major issue in government procurement is the 2017 Finance Ministry Regulation on Government Procurement and Supplies Administration does not specify exact time frames for inspection and acceptance. This has led to delays in project completion and subsequent budget disbursement.

To address this, the ruling committee set clear inspection time frames for all types of procurement – including goods, services and construction contracts – so agencies can pay contractors promptly, in line with annual budget disbursement acceleration measures.

If the inspection committee or project supervisor cannot complete acceptance within the prescribed time frame due to necessity, they must request an extension from the agency head.

In some cases, government agencies agreeing to procurement contracts with the private sector fail to promptly inspect and accept the completed work under the contract, causing delays in payment and budget disbursement.

For example, in procurement projects other than construction contracts where there is only one work instalment, the inspection and acceptance of goods must be completed within five working days after the contractor delivers the goods.

For construction contracts, including both lump-sum or unit-price types, for the latter if the contract value does not exceed 30 million baht, the supervising officer must inspect and accept each work instalment within four days.

If the contract value does not exceed 60 million baht, the inspection and acceptance must be completed within eight days.

“Establishing clear inspection timelines not only accelerates disbursement, but also serves as a crucial tool in reforming the government’s work acceptance process to enhance transparency and contract management efficiency,” said Mrs Patricia.

“This ensures higher standards, faster processes, and greater fairness for private sector partners, ultimately improving the effectiveness of national budget management.”