Can a Contractor Be Both a Main Contractor and a Subcontractor for Another Contractor in a Single Bidding Package?

Defined in clauses 35 and 36 of Article 4 of the Bidding Law 2013, main contractors and subcontractors are understood as follows:

In simple terms: The main contractor is responsible for bidding, submitting the bid, and directly signing and executing the contract if selected. The subcontractor signs a contract with the main contractor to perform a part of the main contractor’s work in a specific package.

CRITERIA	MAIN CONTRACTOR	SUBCONTRACTOR
Contract Signing	Directly with the project owner	With the main contractor
Working with the Project Owner	Works directly with the project owner, rights and obligations established based on the agreement between the main contractor and the project owner	Does not work directly with the project owner but only performs the work within the relationship with the main contractor.
Responsibility	The main contractor is fully responsible to the project owner for quantity, quality, progress, and other obligations, including those parts executed by the subcontractor	Only performs the work declared in the bid documents regarding the use of subcontractors. The value of the work that the subcontractor is allowed to perform must not exceed a certain percentage of the contract value as stated in the specific conditions of the contract
Obligations	- Fully responsible for quantity, quality, progress, and other obligations as per the contract with the project owner. - Must commit to sending a representative with sufficient authority and capability to resolve any issues at any time upon request from the project owner; - Must provide all necessary documents for meetings, reports, appraisals in the required quantity	- Ensure the completion of the assigned work as in the bid documents. - Must report the work status comprehensively for the main contractor’s awareness.

Can a Contractor Be Both a Main Contractor and a Subcontractor for Another Contractor in a Single Bidding Package?

A customer asked the following question on DauThau.info's Support Group:

"There are currently 2 service providers of dedicated data transmission lines in the area, namely X and Y. For a package of equipment and transmission lines, the Bidding Documents allow the use of subcontractors with a 10% ratio (aimed at main contractors participating but unable to provide transmission lines, then subcontracting this work to a subcontractor). However, after closing and opening the bids, the consultant discovered:

The first main contractor has a memorandum of cooperation and declares the provision of dedicated data transmission lines for Subcontractor X.
The second main contractor is X, participating with the ability to provide both equipment and transmission lines.
That is, here, X is both a main contractor and a subcontractor for another contractor in the same package. Does this violate the Bidding Law?"

Regarding this question, DauThau.info's Bidding Expert provided the following answer:

According to point Đ of clause 2 of Article 18 of Decree No. 63/2014/NĐ-CP, one of the conditions for the e-HSDT of the contractor to be evaluated as valid is:

đ) Not being named in two or more contractors as a main contractor (independent contractor or member of a partnership);

Thus, in the above case, being both a main contractor and a subcontractor for another contractor in the same package does not violate the Bidding Law and can be implemented. Above is the answer from the Bidding Expert of DauThau.info to the question “Can a contractor be both a main contractor and a subcontractor for another contractor in a single bidding package?”. In case you need answers to related questions or legal opinions for specific cases, contractors can contact DauThau.info through the following information:

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