Investments in civil protection too time-consuming? Local governments appeal for simplification of rules

• The Convention of Małopolska Counties has adopted a position in which it calls for the simplification of the rules for spending funds on civil protection, demanding, among other things, the exclusion or simplification of the application of the provisions of the Public Procurement Law in this context.
• - Applying full procedures resulting from the Public Procurement Law significantly prolongs the process of implementing these tasks, which is a serious impediment in the context of population protection and responding to crisis situations - points out Józef Tomal, the starost of Myślenice and chairman of the convention.
• According to the district authorities, the publication of tender documentation (SWZ) in the Public Information Bulletin may also lead to the disclosure of sensitive information regarding the location and parameters of protective facilities.

In its position, the convention notes that district governments will, in practice, be responsible for the preparation and implementation of many security projects. According to the convention, the current procedures under the Public Procurement Law significantly complicate and prolong the process of implementing investments and procurement related to civil protection .

The Act on Population Protection and Civil Defense specifies the principles for organizing, financing, and performing tasks in the field of population protection and civil defense, including obligations regarding the preparation and maintenance of collective protection facilities, emergency shelters, and the provision of material and equipment reserves.

Purchasing and construction are significantly hampered. "This significantly prolongs the process."

Implementing these tasks at the local government level requires appropriate organizational resources and efficient mechanisms for disbursing public funds. These activities are currently being implemented under the 2025-2026 Population Protection and Civil Defense Program, which aims to increase crisis preparedness and strengthen the country's civil defense system.

- recalls the chairman of the Convention of Counties of the Małopolska Voivodeship, Józef Tomal, starost of Myślenice.

It indicates that in practice, the implementation of tasks arising from the Act and the program requires purchasing equipment, furnishings and carrying out infrastructure investments in a manner that ensures speed and effectiveness of action.

- Applying full procedures resulting from the Public Procurement Law significantly prolongs the process of implementing these tasks , which is a serious impediment in the context of population protection and responding to crisis situations - signals the starosta of Myślenice.

According to the district authorities, the publication of tender documentation (SWZ) in the Public Information Bulletin may also lead to the disclosure of sensitive information regarding the location and parameters of protective facilities .

The Convention therefore calls for the introduction of specific legislative solutions enabling the exclusion or simplification of the application of public procurement rules in relation to expenditure made under the above-mentioned Act and the civil protection programme .

It also points to the need to establish principles of cooperation and agree on purchases between municipal and district governments so that funds under the programme are spent in a rational and coordinated manner.

It proposes that purchases made by municipalities should be agreed with the relevant territorial starosts , which will help avoid inefficient allocation of funds (e.g. excessive purchases of one type of equipment in the absence of other, equally necessary equipment).

- Such a solution would promote complementarity of activities and the construction of a coherent population protection system at the district level - we read in the position.

The expectations of the district governors are likely to be met. Appropriate regulations exempting some civil protection tasks from the procurement law regime are being prepared for implementation in 2026.

- Including in the act that certain investments, such as shelters or communications purchases, will be exempt from public procurement law would result in accelerating the spending of money from the Population Protection and Civil Defence Program - said Wiesław Szczepański, Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration, in an interview with PAP.