A conflict of interest arises when personal, financial or business relationships could influence—or appear to influence—a procurement decision.
Examples include undisclosed relationships between bidders and officials, financial interests in competing businesses, or participating in procurement activities where impartiality may be compromised.
Declaring a conflict of interest does not necessarily exclude a supplier from participating. However, failing to disclose relevant information can undermine the fairness of the procurement process and may result in further investigation.
Transparency protects both suppliers and procuring institutions by ensuring that procurement decisions are made objectively and fairly.