SFP#57: Policy and EU: Why everyone should care about procurement!

[laughs] So it's a bit far ahead, right? But what are we actually talking about? So as you already mentioned, procurement is, like, everything basically that is in, uh, in public infrastructure or public bodies.

So it can...

Yeah.

What is the Procurement Act actually affecting and, yeah, what's happening there?

So-

Or who?

Uh, b- yeah, so the...

And, and that's the thing.

So it, it covers everything for everyone, right? [laughs] So when...

[laughs] Let's, let's put it like this.

So I mean, there, there are certain thresholds in it.

For example, procurements, European-wide procurement procedures start with 250,000 euros.

So as soon as you hit 250K or above, then you have to, uh, run through these procurement procedures.

You have to publicly announce that you are looking for a specific thing, a chair, a airport scanner-

All those things, yes

... a new kindergarten.

[laughs]

The kindergarten, yes.

[laughs]

The kindergarten, right.

So what- what- what- whatever a public administration needs, I don't know, water supplies, whatever.

So everything what comes to your mind, which is, like, basically, uh, provided by a public administration in front of your eyes when you leave your house, right? So this is then basically what we are looking for.

And the rules are basically for people that sit in your administration and have to do this procurement process, right? So let's say, like, I don't know, I need a new painting for my city hall, and who's going to do this since it's a very big building and it's above 250K to, to get the painting, so then you have to procure it, right? So and then you have to follow some rules, and until now, it was basically cheapest bidder wins.

So it's a, it's a very easy principle.

You go to the market and say, "Ah, that's the cheapest one.