Public Procurement Rules
Public procurement is the process of acquiring goods, services or works from an external source. It is the acquisition of these things in order to perform a public function, either on behalf of a government department or agency, or for a third party such as a private company or individual.
There are rules that govern public procurement, which are set out in national and international legislation. These rules aim to ensure that public procurement is conducted in a fair and transparent way, and that it delivers value for money.
The main piece of legislation governing public procurement in the UK is the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. This sets out the rules that must be followed by contracting authorities when they are procuring goods, services or works from suppliers.
The rules governing public procurement are designed to ensure that:
– Procurement is conducted in a fair and transparent way
– The best value for money is achieved
– Public funds are spent wisely
– There is competition between suppliers
– Suppliers are treated equally