Towards Trustworthy Procurement: A Lightweight and Secure Bidding System

A fair tendering system is essential in public administration to ensure the proper use of taxpayers’ money. The sealed-bid quotation method remains preferred for minor purchases due to its simplicity. However, it has more geographical restrictions and is more vulnerable to fraud than the e-tendering system. E-tendering methods are more technology-dependent and are used for major purchases. However, both approaches require quotation submission to the procurement host. Therefore, this research proposes a lightweight and secure bidding system that requires no quotation submission at the time of participation. Quotation disclosure is required at the time of bid opening. Until the bid opening event, the quotation remains in the respective bidder’s possession, and there is no risk of data leakage. Therefore, this system can be used to secure bidding in real-time.