What is Public Procurement? (Second Edition) (Procurement ClassRoom Series)

What Is Public Procurement? Second Edition provides a clear, practical introduction to the public procurement system and the principles that shape it.

Revised and updated for this Second Edition, the book is written for new procurement practitioners, public officials, students, and professionals who need a concise refresher. It explains what public procurement is, why it matters, how it is governed, who is responsible for what, and how the procurement process leads into contract administration after contract signature.

The book is organized in six parts. Part I explains what public procurement is, why it matters, its historical development, and how it differs from private-sector procurement. Part II examines its purpose, governing principles, legal and institutional framework, stakeholder responsibilities, and accountability arrangements. Part III explains how public procurement works in practice, from the procurement cycle and contract formation to transparency, ethics, integrity, fraud prevention, and risk management. Part IV considers public procurement as a strategic instrument, including sustainability, social and green procurement, and SME participation. Part V introduces special procurement contexts, including donor-financed and international procurement, public-private partnerships, defense and security procurement, and emergency procurement. Part VI looks at the procurement profession and its future, including professional capability, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, performance measurement, and emerging developments.

Rather than presenting the rules of one jurisdiction as universal, the book takes a framework-neutral approach. It helps readers understand concepts and disciplines that apply across different public procurement systems while recognizing that applicable laws, regulations, institutional rules, financing arrangements, and procurement-specific requirements govern individual procurements.

As Companion Lesson 1 of the Procurement ClassRoom Series, What Is Public Procurement? Second Edition provides the foundation for readers who want to progress to more detailed treatment of procurement principles and methods, procurement planning, procurement execution, and post-signature contract administration.