Public procurement in Sardinia: 2021 was a black year

2021 was a black year for tenders related to public works in Sardinia.

Between January and November, 606 tenders were published on the island for a total amount based on tenders equal to 421 million. There is a sharp decline compared to the data for the same period of the previous year, with negative rates of -18% and -63% respectively for the number and amount of calls.

This was revealed by a report from the Centro Studi della Cna Sardegna.

The year just ended was characterized by the drastic downsizing of spending levels, which stood at a monthly average of less than 40 million (one third compared to the 2020 average) and equal to half the monthly capacity expressed in the two-year period 2018-2019 .

The drop in demand is also significant, with an average monthly number of promoted tenders dropped to 55 against almost 70 in 2020, 75 in 2019 and almost 90 in 2018.

Due to these numbers, Sardinia ranks in the last positions among the Italian regions.

In particular, the large tenders collapsed: only 14 tenders have ordered amounts exceeding five million: - 60% compared to 2020 (this band is at the lowest levels of the last twenty years). Micro-contracts are also decreasing (-35% in number and -24% in amount); only small jobs grow between 150 and 500 thousand euros (+ 16% by number and + 22% by amount).

The island's local authorities have launched 510 tenders for an amount of 311 million: compared to the levels of 2020, demand is reduced by 23% and spending by almost 60%. Only the provinces recorded a positive balance compared to 2020, with 62 tenders for 27 million euros.

"Barring surprising results in the closing month of the year, our Region will be among the territories with the greatest reductions in the levels of expenditure in the tender; 2021 is confirmed as a year of transition for the volumes of works put up for tender; it is now necessary to prepare public structures for the growth of the market expected in the coming years by accompanying the strategic use of available resources (National Recovery and Resilience Plan and Community Funds) to a regulatory simplification that allows to speed up the indispensable infrastructural works, redevelopment and regeneration urban ", commented Francesco Porcu and Antonello Mascia, respectively regional secretary of Cna Sardinia and president of Cna Costruzioni.

(Unioneonline / F)