ABSTRACT
At the core of Smart Sustainable Public Procurement Programme (SPP) is the identification of a contracting authority's needs in terms of performance and function. A major advantage of the Smart SPP approach is that it is not constrained by the existing technical knowledge or market awareness of the contracting authorities' officers responsible for the procurement process. Smart SPP provides some examples of weighted criteria for various product lines, but demonstrated a pressing need for increased skill levels among procurement officers, and for the sharing of best practice within and between contracting authorities. Market engagement is a key element of Smart SPP. Providing a sufficiently long lead-in time allows potential bidders to consider what potential alternative solutions exist, or are close to market readiness. Smart SPP focuses attention of the life-cycle cost and benefits of the technology to be purchased. The initial purchase price is no real guide to the whole-life benefits of a particular solution.
