Sequence of IT Application Investment Projects from March 1, 2026

Sequence of IT application investment projects from March 1, 2026, is implemented based on the latest regulations in Decree 45/2026/ND-CP of the Government. The law strictly regulates stages from preparation and implementation to conclusion to optimize the efficiency of state budget use in digital transformation. Investors must strictly comply with technical standards and design dossier appraisal processes. The following article analyzes these regulations in detail.

Investment procedures for information technology application projects from March 1, 2026

According to Article 8 of Decree 45/2026/ND-CP (effective from March 1, 2026), the investment sequence is divided into three official stages: Investment Preparation, Investment Implementation, and Investment Conclusion.

Activities in the implementation and conclusion stages can be performed sequentially or alternately depending on specific project conditions as determined by the investment decision-making authority.

1. Investment Preparation Stage: Investors must focus on:

• Formulating, appraising, and deciding on investment policies.
• Formulating, appraising, and deciding on project investment.

2. Investment Implementation Stage: Classified by project type:

• System Investment Projects: Formulate/appraise/approve detailed design dossiers (or detailed designs in 2-step design cases); select contractors and execute contracts; project management; deployment; deployment supervision; testing; trial operation; user training; acceptance and handover; as-built documentation.
• Procurement Projects: Select contractors and execute contracts; project management; deployment; deployment supervision (if any); trial operation; user training (if any); acceptance and handover; as-built documentation.
• IT Service Leasing Projects: Select contractors and execute contracts; project management; trial operation; user training; acceptance and provision of IT services; service quality supervision; acceptance and handover; as-built documentation.

3. Investment Conclusion Stage: Regulates post-audit and financial obligations. Investors are responsible for product warranty (for system and procurement projects). Investment capital settlement and settlement approval must be completed on time to close the project code on the budget management system.

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Regulations on the design of investment projects applying information technology

Article 9 of Decree 45/2026/ND-CP establishes mandatory technical standards for design. Design activities apply only to system investment projects and can follow a 1-step or 2-step process.

1-Step Design (Detailed Design): Applied when:

• Total investment does not exceed 20 billion VND.
• Other projects allowed by competent authorities after the investor provides a reasonable explanation report.

2-Step Design: Includes Fundamental Design and Detailed Design.

• Detailed design must ensure absolute consistency with the approved fundamental design regarding the overall model, logical model, and physical system model.
• For internal software projects, after the investment decision, the investor can self-organize or hire a contractor to conduct additional surveys (if needed), formulate detailed designs, and implement deployment.

Software commonly used in investment management utilizes information technology to manage state budget funds

Determining the list of common software is key to minimizing new construction costs. According to Article 5 of Decree 45/2026/ND-CP, common software meets the general functional and technical needs of many agencies/organizations.

Criteria:

• Many ministries, central/local agencies have identical needs for investment, procurement, or service leasing regarding basic functions/technical features.
• The list and basic technical specifications are built and announced by competent authorities (Ministries/Central Agencies for sector-specific software; Ministry of Science and Technology for national software).

Simplified Procedure: For common software, investors follow procedures for procuring commercial software or leasing available services instead of building internal software.

Announcement: The list is announced annually before January 30 or irregularly upon changes on the electronic information portals of ministries/agencies and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

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Investment consulting services utilizing information technology at Long Phan Consulting Company

Long Phan Consulting Company provides in-depth consulting services to support clients in correctly implementing the IT application investment sequence from 2026. We structure our support into the following key areas:

• Providing consultancy services for preparing investment policy documents and investment projects applying information technology, in accordance with legally prescribed forms.
• The design documents are reviewed in both one-step and two-step processes to ensure compliance with national technical standards.
• Assisting in identifying popular software categories to apply a streamlined procurement sequence and optimize project budget.
• Providing consultancy on drafting implementation contracts, supervising authorship, and managing risks during the investment implementation process.
• Your representative will work with relevant authorities to explain the technical solutions and socio-economic effectiveness of the project.

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Frequently Asked Questions about the sequence of IT application investment projects

Below are some questions related to investing in information technology application projects:

What are the stages involved in the investment process for an information technology system project? 

The investment implementation process is divided into three main formal phases: investment preparation, investment execution, and investment completion. Activities in the execution and completion phases can be carried out sequentially or alternately depending on the specific conditions of each project, as decided by the competent authority. This phase division helps the investor closely monitor the progress and technical quality of the system.

(Legal basis: Clauses 1 and 2, Article 8 of Decree 45/2026/ND-CP)

What is the total investment level of a project that qualifies for a one-step design process?

The law stipulates that a single-step design (detailed design) is applicable to projects with a total investment not exceeding 20 billion VND. Furthermore, for projects exceeding this capital threshold, if the investor believes they have sufficient capacity and conditions to carry out a single-step design, they must report to the competent investment decision-making authority for consideration and approval. This regulation aims to simplify administrative procedures for small and medium-sized projects.

(Legal basis: Clause 2, Article 9 of Decree 45/2026/ND-CP)

What standards must popular software applications used in investment meet? 

Common software refers to software that meets the investment, procurement, or service leasing needs of multiple agencies and localities, offering similar basic functions and technical features. This software must be developed, evaluated, and its official technical specifications published on electronic portals by competent authorities. Using common software optimizes state budget spending and enhances data interoperability between units.

(Legal basis: Clause 1, Article 5 of Decree 45/2026/ND-CP)

What requirements must be met for detailed design in a project implemented using a two-step process?

The detailed design documents must ensure absolute consistency and conformity with the approved basic design regarding the overall model, logical model, and physical model of the system. For internal software components, after the investment decision is made, the investor has the right to carry out the work themselves or hire a contractor to conduct additional surveys to finalize the design. This is the most important technical basis for the contractor to implement the construction and accept the product.

(Legal basis: Clause 4, Article 9 of Decree 45/2026/ND-CP)

What are the responsibilities of the design firm after the detailed design documents have been approved? 

Organizations and individuals responsible for detailed design are obligated to conduct author’s supervision throughout the entire process of product implementation and acceptance of work items. This supervision aims to ensure that actual construction complies with the technical specifications and architectural ideas approved in the project documents. Upon the client’s request, the design unit must be present to explain and resolve any technical issues arising at the site.

(Legal basis: Clause 5, Article 9 of Decree 45/2026/ND-CP)

What are the key activities during the project investment completion phase?

During the investment completion phase, the investor must focus on providing product warranties for system investment projects and equipment procurement projects. Simultaneously, the beneficiary is responsible for preparing investment capital settlement documents and submitting them to the competent authority for approval within the legally prescribed timeframe. Completing these financial and after-sales obligations is a mandatory condition for officially closing the project file and putting the system into operation.

(Legal basis: Clause 5, Article 8 of Decree 45/2026/ND-CP)

Conclusion

The IT application investment sequence requires absolute accuracy in design dossiers and approval processes under Decree 45/2026/ND-CP. Proactively updating on common software and design standards helps optimize resources.

For support in compliance and audit risk avoidance, please contact Long Phan Consulting Company via Hotline 1900636389.