المملكة: The Water Authority requires contractors to have a qualification certificate and prohibits contracting with unqualified people

Required Unified technical standards, ensuring efficient implementation, quality of services, and compliance with regulations.

Procedural rules for licensing

The new procedural rules warned entities licensed to practice service provision activities against contracting with parties not qualified by the Authority.

It explained that the certificate extends its validity for only one year from the date of its issuance, and requires the submission of a renewal application by the contractor after its expiration.

The Authority granted Widepowers to suspend or prevent the issuance of the certificate, in whole or in part, or to suspend it for specific or indefinite periods.

This deterrent measure comes to confront cases of contractors stumbling in the implementation of projects, a low level of technical and administrative performance, or a violation of the approved systems and standards.

The instructions stressed taking strict measures against those who submit incorrect or misleading data or documents in the qualification applications, or repeat violations without addressing them within the periods.

It pointed out that the ban or suspension decision does not prejudice the authority’s right to take any other regulatory measures, with the possibility of lifting the suspension after correcting the contractor’s situation.

Financial procedures

With regard to financial procedures, the authority obligated certificate applicants to pay a financial fee due upon requesting issuance or renewal, which is an amount that is not refundable in any case.

It indicated that the collection of fees takes place through official channels and is limited to the step of issuing the certificate and does not include the evaluation stages, without This represents a commitment to issuing them unless all requirements are met.

The regulations assigned the authorities working in the sector the responsibility of studying the applications and ensuring their compliance with the standards before initial approval, while obliging them to return incomplete applications to the contractors.

The final approval remains limited to the Saudi Water Authority, which is responsible for setting and updating technical standards in cooperation with the relevant authorities.

The Authority specified the mechanisms for submitting applications by sending the original signed documents to the official national address of the General Administration For licenses, whether by handling or by mail.

It also provided the option of direct electronic submission through its official portal “SWA.GOV.SA” to facilitate procedures for contractors.

These rules are based on the water system issued by Royal Decree No. “M/159” dated 11/11/1441 AH, and will enter into force immediately after their approval. These rules and their fees are subject to annual periodic review or whenever necessary, to ensure that they keep pace with the requirements of protecting the sector.

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