Public procurement challenges in Finland when acquiring complex goods and services.

Abstract

Public procurement, a crucial element in the European Union's internal market and the management of public funds in Member States, is the focus of this thesis. While Finland's performance is commendable, there are measures that could further mitigate the internal, commercial, and legal risks in public procurement. This thesis delves into the challenges faced by Finland when acquiring complex goods and services, offering insights that could benefit the contracting authorities.

The thesis outlines the relevant frameworks of public procurement legislation to examine the challenges faced by contracting authorities and companies entering the procurement process. Cases and statistics are analysed to give an analysis of the concurring situation. All the challenges are introduced in different paragraphs, but overall, they collide in realism and are connected. Internal risk is examined in the light of the human resource practices of contracting authorities. It mainly focuses on the ability of the contracting authorities to draft reasonably clear procurement documents and how to lead procurement activities strategically. Commercial risks are analysed in the light of changing the legislation to promote competition and avoid failures in the tenderer's misconduct on the market. Legal risks are examined in the light of time-consuming legal remedies and the financial losses of legal procedures.

Overall, the thesis provides a comprehensive overview of the complexity of public procurement and the potential risks that may arise in the process. It offers practical insights into the measures that contracting authorities can employ to ensure the best value for money. The devil is in the details, and one of the main challenges is the lack of competition and the ability to produce clear procurement documents. The thesis's primary contribution is its perspective on the effectiveness of the procurement procedure in securing the best value for taxpayers, a question of significant practical importance in the field of public procurement.