Understanding on Government Procurement in the Service Sector

1. Any of the procurement organizations listed in Appendix 1 of the document entitled "Procedures for Government Procurement on Products (Operational Guidelines)" (adopted by resolution of the Action Program Committee on 28 March 1994) which procures any of the services (only those services covered by the said Agreement as specified by Appendix I of this Agreement for Japan) covered by the Agreement on Government Procurement, which took effect on 1 January 1996 shall be subject to the requirements of Procedures for Government Procurement on Products (Operational Guidelines).
   
   
2. Of the services referred to in paragraph 1 above, however, procurement of the following services shall be carried out in accordance with the relevant action plans and arrangements, the content of paragraph 1 notwithstanding: ((1)) services covered by the Action Plan on Reform of the Bidding and Contracting Procedures for Public Works (passed by the Cabinet on 18 January 1994); ((2)) services covered by the Measures Related to Japanese Public Sector Procurement of Telecommunications Products and Services (passed by the Action Program Committee on 28 March 1994); ((3)) services covered by the Measures Related to Japanese Public Sector Procurement of Computer Products and Services (passed by the Action Program Committee on 20 January 1992); and ((4)) services covered by the Measures Related to Japanese Public Sector Procurement of Medical Technology Products and Services (passed by the Action Program Committee on 18 January 1994).

   The services referred to in item ((3)) shall be subject to the provisions of the Procedures for Government Procurement (Operational Guidelines), provided there is no conflict with the measures stipulated in item ((3)). The services subject to such provisions are those listed in the Procedures for Government Procurement (Operational Guidelines) and the Procedures and Arrangements for Individual Fields (25 April 1994).

3. The arrangements described in paragraphs 1 and 2 above will take effect on 1 January 1996.