Dimension: 2.2.2 Public procurement
This dimension covers public procurement by parliament, which should follow a proper process that is transparent and competitive.
In some cases, this procurement process may be governed by a legal framework applicable to all publicly funded agencies. However, some parliaments have enacted a separate legal framework for parliamentary procurement, which meets the institution’s specific needs. In either case, these provisions should mandate clear and comprehensive procurement guidelines, based on the following key principles:
- Value for money
- Fairness, transparency, openness and clarity
- Ethical conduct
- Competition and efficiency
Procurement is a specialized task requiring particular knowledge and skills. Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. should therefore have staff with expertise in undertaking procurement, managing contracts, achieving value for money and communicating about complex procurement procedures. Mandatory training for all staff involved in the public procurement process should be provided regularly.
Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. ’s public procurement process and decisions should be subject to internal and/or external audits or other reviews to provide assurances regarding compliance with the legal framework and procurement guidelines. In some countries, this task is entrusted to an independent body.
Aspiring goal
Assess your parliament against this dimension
Assessment criteria
No 1: Legal framework
Parliament’s procurement process is governed by a legal framework. Parliament has clear and comprehensive procurement guidelines that are in line with national and international obligations and best practice.
No 2: Expertise
Parliament has staff with expertise in undertaking procurement, managing contracts, achieving value for money and communicating about complex procurement procedures.
No 3: Transparency
All stages of the procurement process are completely transparent and open. All information on procurement is made publicly available in a timely manner.
No 4: Audits
Internal and/or external audits or other reviews provide assurances regarding compliance with the legal framework and procurement guidelines. The reports and findings of such audits or reviews are made publicly available.
How to complete this assessment
This dimension is assessed against several criteria, each of which should be evaluated separately. For each criterion, select one of the six descriptive grades (Non-existent, Rudimentary, Basic, Good, Very good and Excellent) that best reflects the situation in your parliament, and provide details of the evidence on which this assessment is based.
The evidence for assessment of this dimension could include the following:
- Provisions of the legal framework relating to public procurement by parliament
- Guidelines on the public procurement process in parliament
- Public Public All the members of a community in general, regardless of their citizenship status. information about all stages of the procurement process
- Reports of internal and/or external audits or other reviews of particular procurement exercises or the procurement process as a whole
- Data on possible non-compliance of public procurement with the law
Where relevant, provide additional comments or examples that support the assessment.
Sources and further reading
- Australian Government Government See: Executive. Note: In this publication, the terms “government” and “executive” are used interchangeably, and the traditional definition of the three branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial) is not used. , Commonwealth Procurement Rules (2023).
- David Beetham, Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. and democracy in the twenty-first century: A guide to good practice (2006).
- Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislators, revised edition (2018).
- Government Government See: Executive. Note: In this publication, the terms “government” and “executive” are used interchangeably, and the traditional definition of the three branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial) is not used. of Belize, Public Public All the members of a community in general, regardless of their citizenship status. Procurement Procedures Handbook. Volume 1: Standardised Procurement Procedures (2013).
- National Democratic Institute (NDI), Toward the Development of International Standards for Democratic Legislatures (2007).
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), OECD Recommendation of the Council on Public Public All the members of a community in general, regardless of their citizenship status. Procurement (2015).
Get help with this assessment
The assessment of indicators involves diagnosing and considering strengths and weaknesses, i.e. the things parliament is doing well, and the things it could do better or more effectively, taking into account established good practices that are described in the indicators.
Read the assessment guidance to find out what to consider when conducting an assessment against the Indicators. Find out how to prepare, how to set the objectives of the assessment, how to organize the process, and more. Contact the project partners for expert advice.
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