The National Wine Agency of Georgia has initiated a simplified procurement process for laboratory services valued at GEL 1 million, according to a formal request submitted to the State Procurement Agency on July 29.
The procurement covers laboratory testing and research related to wine and spirits, and, as outlined in the documentation, will involve collaboration with both local and international laboratories. The Agency notes that many of these laboratories, particularly foreign institutions, would be unwilling or unable to participate through standard tender procedures, making a simplified procurement necessary.
“Given the Agency’s limited human resources, we plan to engage qualified international organizations to assist with data collection and analysis. This not only ensures the reliability of results but also enhances transparency in the quality control process,” the Agency stated in its justification.
The document explains that Georgian wine companies themselves select laboratories to conduct required testing in order to obtain export certificates. However, due to the unpredictable nature of the volume, type, and specifications of samples, it is nearly impossible to pre-plan and conduct a competitive tender. This unpredictability complicates compliance with standard procurement timelines and procedures.
Moreover, when it comes to specific tests that are not conducted in Georgia, the Agency often relies on internationally accredited laboratories abroad. These institutions typically do not participate in Georgian tender procedures, further underscoring the need for a simplified approach.
According to the Agency, the primary objective of this initiative is to ensure rigorous quality control of exported alcoholic beverages and to minimize the risk of counterfeiting. As part of the process, samples from each batch of exported alcoholic products will be tested across multiple accredited laboratories to validate quality and compliance.
