. KATHMANDU: The government has issued a new standard revising the process for contracting and resource agreement related to multi-year projects. The ‘Multi-Year Project Resource Agreement Criteria-2082’ has been implemented by amending the ‘Multi-Year Project Contract Agreement-2081 Standard-2081’.

As per the new criteria, the deadline for obtaining resource consent for multi-year projects has been pushed. Now, the National Planning Commission (NPC) has to evaluate the project proposals received and recommend for resource consent to the Ministry of Finance by November 30. Earlier, the commission had a provision to recommend the recommendation by mid-November.

Similarly, the Ministry of Finance will have to take a decision on resource consensus by December 29 based on the medium-term expenditure structure, the three-year budget projection entered in the Ministry-based Budget Information System, the budget for the current fiscal year and the condition of the resources. Earlier, the Ministry of Finance was given time till mid-January.

For the current fiscal year 2082/83, a special provision has been made for resource agreement for multi-year projects. In the current fiscal year, any ministry or agency has to submit a proposal to the commission for approval of such resources by mid-January and the commission can recommend to the Ministry of Finance by January 29. If the Planning Commission recommends resource consent for multi-year projects, the Ministry of Finance can give consent for the current fiscal year by mid-February.