Bangkok:The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the Phase 4 electronic passport auction was conducted transparently and in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, following appeals from three companies.
According to Thai News Agency, the Ministry assured that these appeals will be given careful consideration and emphasized that the process will not affect public access to passport services. Concurrently, the Ministry is negotiating with current service providers to maintain passport production during the transition to the new phase.
Ms. Jaithai Upakarnnitikaset, Director-General of the Department of Information and spokesperson for the Ministry, addressed concerns about the potential impact of unresolved appeals on passport services. She noted that the winning bid was announced on October 8, 2026, and clarified that the process adhered to the Public Procurement and Supply Management Act B.E. 2560 (2017), as well as the Ministry of Finance's regulations. The evaluation criteria were based on a combination of price (30%) and efficiency (70%), ensuring high security standards for Thai passports.
The Ministry engaged representatives from external agencies and experts for drafting the Terms of Reference (TOR) to maintain transparency and compliance with procurement laws. Four public hearings were conducted to refine the TOR based on feedback from all bidders.
The electronic bidding method was utilized, allowing qualified parties to submit proposals. The project was included in the Integrity Pact program, with anti-corruption observers monitoring every stage. A working group of Ministry officials and university experts provided technical opinions to support the bid evaluation committee.
Ms. Jaithai confirmed the receipt of appeal letters from the three companies and reiterated the Ministry's commitment to a transparent and lawful review process. She outlined that the full implementation of the fourth phase of electronic passport services will take another year, during which negotiations with current providers will continue to ensure uninterrupted service to the public.