The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ("MIIT") has recently issued the Standard Conditions for Suppliers Offering Solutions to the Intelligent Manufacturing System (Draft for Comment) (the "Draft for Comment") to seek public opinions by August 18, 2018.
The Draft for Comment states that, the MIIT will subject suppliers satisfying these Standard Conditions to the administration by announcement, and public institutions and enterprises may apply for the announcement on a voluntary basis, adding that any applicant shall fulfill five requirements, one of which reads that "the applicant shall have won a sound credit rating, have a good public image, carry out business in a lawful and honest manner, and have neither any behavior that breaks the laws or regulations of the State nor unfair competition acts in the latest three years". Meanwhile, the Draft for Comment expressly states that a supplier shall provide schematic design services and satisfy relevant criteria, including "generating functional and cost constraints according to the client's needs, having demands confirmed, and forming the countersigned documents". Furthermore, the Draft for Comment notes that, the MIIT will entrust relevant professional agencies to formulate corresponding detailed review rules based on these Standard Conditions, arrange for experts to examine applicant enterprises, and dynamically manage the list of enterprises making the announcement.