To further advance the electronic process for qualification application and approval of construction engineering enterprises, reduce the burden on enterprises and social costs, and improve qualification approval efficiency, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development has decided to launch a pilot of the online application and approval system for engineering survey and design qualifications (hereinafter referred to as the "new system") in four regions: Beijing, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Sichuan. The General Office of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development recently issued a notice outlining specific requirements for the pilot work.
　　According to the notice, the qualification types included in this pilot are new applications, upgrades, additional items, and re-verification matters for engineering survey and engineering design qualifications that are subject to approval by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Engineering survey and engineering design qualifications subject to review by relevant departments of the State Council, as well as enterprises whose qualifications are subject to preliminary review by relevant departments of the State Council or enterprises directly supervised by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Department of the State Council, are temporarily not included in the pilot scope.
　　The notice specifies that starting January 15, 2015, enterprises in the pilot regions applying to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development for approval of engineering survey and engineering design qualifications must submit their applications through the new system. Starting February 15, 2015, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development will accept applications for approval of engineering survey and engineering design qualifications submitted by the pilot regions in accordance with the notice requirements, and will no longer accept paper materials other than those required by the notice.
　　The notice emphasizes that pilot regions should strengthen the verification of the authenticity of electronic application materials. The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development will conduct random inspections and, for enterprises engaged in fraudulent behavior, will handle the matter in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Measures for Handling Fraudulent Behavior in Qualification Applications of Construction Engineering Enterprises. Pilot regions should assign dedicated personnel responsible for the work and promptly organize publicity and training to ensure the smooth implementation of the pilot work in their regions.