Procurement Tools

This document replaces the brief that was originally published in January 2011. SIGMA Brief 11 focuses on three specific modern types of procurement tools: framework agreements, electronic auctions and dynamic purchasing systems. EU Member States have the option of deciding whether or not to implement provisions permitting these procurement tools. The framework agreement instrument is widely used and considered as an efficient procurement technique throughout Europe. An electronic auction is a method of inviting revised final tenders following the conduct of a full tender process. It involves an online electronic system that is used by economic operators to submit new prices and/or other revisions to elements of their tenders for a particular contract in real time and in direct competition with other economic operators. A dynamic purchasing system is a completely electronic system which can be used for repeat standardised purchases.