SINGAPORE - Some $2.2 billion worth of public-sector technology tenders will be up for grabs this year.

The tenders are part of the Government's push for Singapore to be a smart nation, and the amount is more than $1.95 billion spent last year.

Specifically, this year's procurement will focus on Web services and data analytics tools, among others.

"The Government must anticipate the needs of citizens through data analytics, build up its own internal IT engineering and development capabilities while engaging the best partners in the industry," said Mr Chan Cheow Hoe, assistant chief executive of Government Services at the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA). He was delivering the keynote address on Wednesday during his agency's briefing to the industry.

Among the tenders to be announced this year include a new work pass system and finance and procurement system by the Ministry of Manpower.

The Education Ministry will also be calling for a tender to acquire analytics tools to mine its pool of student data.