Procurement Laws

Economy: Procurement is a purchasing activity whose purpose is to give the purchaser best value for money. For complex purchases, value may imply more than just price since quality issues also need to be addressed. Moreover, lowest initial price may not equate to lowest cost over the operating life of the item procured. But the basic point is the same: the ultimate purpose of sound procurement is to obtain maximum value for money.

Efficiency: The best procurement is simple and swift, producing positive results without protracted delays. In addition, efficiency implies practicality, especially in terms of compatibility with the GOJ administrative resources and professional capabilities.

Fairness: Good procurement is impartial, consistent, and therefore reliable. It offers all interested suppliers, contractors and consultants a level playing field on which to compete and thereby, directly expands GOJ’s options and opportunities.

Reliability: Good procurement establishes and then maintains rules and procedures that are accessible and unambiguous. It is not only fair, but should also be seen to be fair.

Transparency & Accountability (Ethical Standards): Good procurement holds its practitioners responsible for enforcing and obeying the rules. It makes them subject to challenge and to sanction, if appropriate, for neglecting or bending those rules. Accountability is at once a key inducement to individual and institutional probity, a key deterrent to collusion and corruption, and a key pre-requisite for procurement credibility.

A sound procurement system is one that combines all the above elements. The desired impact is to inspire the confidence and willingness-to-compete of well-qualified vendors. This directly and concretely benefits GOJ and its constituents, responsive contractors and suppliers.