Circular No. 37/TC-HCSN on the management of the state budget for the national program on information technology

CIRCULAR
OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE NUMBER 37 TC/HCSN DATED JULY 17, 1996 ON
MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL BUDGET FOR THE NATIONAL PROGRAM ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Implementing Decision No. 211/TTg dated April 7, 1995 of the Prime Minister approving the national program on information technology - Overall plan until 2000.

To unify the management of the budget for the national program on information technology. The Ministry of Finance issues this Circular to regulate the management of the national budget for the national program on information technology as follows:

I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES:

- The Steering Committee for the National Program on Information Technology shall be responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Finance in the compilation and proposed allocation of annual budget plans for information technology development projects under central ministries and localities to be submitted to the Government for consideration and to the National Assembly for approval.

- State budget funds allocated for the National Program on Information Technology must be used strictly for the purposes and contents approved by competent authorities and managed rigorously according to current financial regulations.

- Based on the state budget plan approved by the National Assembly for information technology development projects, the Ministry of Finance shall be responsible for timely and full disbursement according to the implementation progress of information technology development projects for central ministries and agencies (the part managed by the central budget) and authorize funding through the Provincial Department of Finance and Prices for information technology development projects managed by localities.

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

1. Budget preparation and consolidation work:

- Annually, based on the overall plan of the National Program on Information Technology for 1996-2000, the Steering Committee for the National Program on Information Technology shall guide central ministries and localities in developing annual information technology development plans and financial plans to be sent to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment for consolidation and submission to the Government for presentation to the National Assembly for approval.

- The Ministry of Finance shall coordinate with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to balance the budget for the information technology program in the annual state budget estimate.

- Information technology development plans and financial plans for information technology development shall be consolidated into the economic and financial plans of ministries, sectors, and localities.

- Plans of central ministries and localities will be approved by the Steering Committee and consolidated into the project plans of the National Program on Information Technology, to be sent to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment according to the current model and time frame.

- Based on the approved budget level, the Steering Committee for the National Program on Information Technology shall coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment to propose budget allocations for ministries, sectors, and localities, which the Ministry of Finance will officially notify to enable them to start implementing from the beginning of the planning year.

2. Contents of expenditures for information technology development projects include:

- Expenditures for purchasing information technology equipment such as machines, cables, network connection costs (including both hardware and software systems)...

- Expenditures for database construction work.

- Expenditures for training related to information technology.

- Expenditures for application and deployment operations (data collection, statistics, conversion).

- Management fees and project administration expenses...

3. Financial management and disbursement work:

- Based on the approved budget estimates, the Ministry of Finance shall be responsible for timely disbursement of funds for projects approved by competent authorities under category 10 item 02, according to the following methods:

+ The Ministry of Finance shall directly disburse funds to central ministries and agencies implementing projects.

+ Disbursements to localities implementing projects through the Provincial Department of Finance and Prices based on projects that have been reviewed and approved by competent authorities.

- For procurement of machinery and equipment, it shall be carried out in accordance with Decision No. 20/TC-KBNN dated January 17, 1996 of the Ministry of Finance on the issuance of bidding rules for the purchase of office supplies, equipment, and working tools for state agencies, armed forces, mass organizations, and state-owned enterprises.

4. Accounting organization, financial inspection, and settlement work:

- Accounting organization work:

All information technology development projects at the central and local levels must implement accounting regulations according to Decision No. 257/TC-CĐKT dated June 1, 1990 of the Ministry of Finance and current documents.

- Inspection work:

Quarterly and annually, the Steering Committee for the National Program on Information Technology shall coordinate with financial agencies to conduct regular or spot inspections of information technology development projects at the central and local levels regarding technical content, implementation progress, and compliance with state policies and regulations.

- Settlement work:

Based on Decision No. 257/TC-CĐKT dated June 1, 1990 of the Ministry of Finance on accounting regulations for units under the State Budget, ministries and sectors (at the central level) receiving state budget funds for information technology development projects must prepare and consolidate quarterly and annual settlement reports together with their general settlement reports to send to the Ministry of Finance.

At the local level, units receiving state budget funds for information technology development projects must prepare and consolidate quarterly and annual settlement reports together with their unit settlement reports to send to the Provincial Department of Finance and Prices, while also sending settlement reports to the Steering Committee for the National Program on Information Technology for reporting to the Ministry of Finance.

III. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS:

- This Circular takes effect from the date of signature.

- During implementation, if there are difficulties, central ministries and local agencies are requested to report to the Ministry of Finance for timely supplementation and adjustment.