Public Procurement Regulations Research Articles

The Definition of ‘Covered Entities’ under the GPA: The General Scope and Escape Conditions

Abstract The WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) does not legally define what entities should be covered by the Agreement. However, its member Parties list their ‘covered entities’ in a series of schedules. The list approach has complicated accession negotiations and discourages Parties from providing a ‘wider’ range of entity coverage. Moreover, the list approach raises some tensions and a lack of legal certainty, especially concerning those that are not strictly ‘government entities’, such as State-owned enterprises (SOEs). This problem is exacerbated in the case of modern SOEs in developing countries, many of which can bear both public and private features. Given these conditions, the author proposes a definition of ‘covered entities’ to facilitate accession negotiations and the future expansion of the GPA. The proposal is based on a comparative study of the GPA and the EU public procurement regulations. It develops a framework by which all publicly controlled entities are presumably covered by the GPA. Nevertheless, Parties can rebut GPA obligations by proving that an entity competes with other commercial entities under normal market conditions.

The impact of public procurement on delivery of quality education in Queensburgh secondary schools, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

Background: The South African government is faced with the challenge of expediting the provision of basic services while at the same time complying with public sector procurement regulations. The adherence to regulations results in delays in the provision of infrastructure for public schools.Aim: The article seeks to assess the impact of public procurement processes on service delivery with regard to the provision of infrastructure to public schools.Setting: The article focusses on secondary schools in Queensburgh, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Methods: The article employed a qualitative research method and primary data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with eight Public Works officials and eight contractors that conduct business with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works (DPW). Purposive sampling had been utilised to identify participants.Results: The article revealed that procurement processes profoundly impact the speed and quality of infrastructural delivery, and in many cases negatively, with delays being experienced.Conclusion: The study showed that the procurement processes affect the delivery of infrastructure in public schools.Contribution: This can assist the South African government in designing procurement in a manner that will expedite service delivery. This is not only going to assist in the provision of schools’ infrastructure in Queensburgh area but should also become a blueprint to eliminate backlogs and delays in service delivery.

The impact of EU public procurement regulations on tenders in Spain: a study with adalimumab.

Pharmaceutical spending accounts for a significant portion of public healthcare budgets. To manage these costs, EU countries implement various cost-containment policies, including competitive tendering for pharmaceuticals. This study examines the impact of EU public procurement regulations on medication procurement practices. A search for all published tenders of adalimumab in Spain from 2018 to 2024 in the Spanish Public Sector Procurement Database, a period that coincides with the implementation of European legislation and the emergence of adalimumab biosimilars. All available documentation for each tender was reviewed, including the tender offer, technical specifications, specific administrative clauses, appointments of evaluation commissions, supporting memorandum, and evaluation reports. Our findings reveal substantial price reductions following the introduction of adalimumab biosimilars, yet highlight significant variability in tender criteria and practices across different regions. Despite adherence to EU directives, the inconsistent application of economic and non-economic factors and an erratic criteria concerning price undermine the intended balance of quality and cost, complicating procurement processes and potentially affecting the availability of a given treatment for patients.

Public sector procurement and the support of small and medium-sized enterprises: a comprehensive public procurement regulatory framework

Governments worldwide leverage their purchasing power to advance social, economic, and environmental agendas. Public procurement can be employed as a strategic instrument to support small and medium-sized enterprises. Many countries are showing a rising interest in leveraging public procurement to foster the integration of small and medium-sized enterprises into markets. However, access to public procurement contracts is a challenge for small and medium sized enterprises. There are challenges posed by government policies that is frequently overlooked. Public procurement regulations cover procedures, methods, standards, and terms for inviting bids, evaluation, selection, negotiation, awarding, and payment of suppliers of goods and services. However, many small businesses fail to meet these procedures, methods, standards, and terms because of capacities and resources constraints. There are public procurement initiatives that are currently being implemented throughout the world to help small businesses gain access to markets. Nevertheless, these initiatives are still relatively new and unstructured. There continues to be a dearth of peer reviewed research. This paper delineates small and medium-sized enterprises from various viewpoints, underlines their importance, explains the frameworks for public procurement, and proposes government-led initiatives that could facilitate the integration of small and medium-sized enterprises into the market. It is concluded that governments should implement strategies aimed at assisting small businesses. These strategies may include non-competitive practices, subcontracting initiatives, qualification criteria, preferential schemes, and award criteria. By doing so, governments can create a fairer playing field, promote the competitiveness of small businesses, and encourage their engagement in public procurement processes. This, in turn, will foster SME growth, spur economic development, and facilitate job creation.

An Analysis of the Obligations of COMESA Public Procurement Regulations: The Case of Zimbabwe’s Public Procurement Regulatory Framework

With the coming into force of the new Constitution in 2013, public procurement was given a constitutional status in Zimbabwe. The Constitution sets out vital principles that public procurement legislation must comply with. Moreover, it is a requirement of the Constitution that the governance of Zimbabwe must be pursued in accordance with Zimbabwe’s international law obligations. Zimbabwe is a founding member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). To accelerate interstate trade, COMESA promulgated Public Procurement Regulations (PPR) for regional competitive bidding across member states. The viability of the regional trade agreements is hinged on mutual cooperation. Pursuant to the foregoing, member states are required to domesticate international agreements into their municipal laws. In 2017, the Zimbabwean legislature passed the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act 5 to give effect to the provisions of section 315(1) of the Constitution (Amendment No. 20), 2013. The public procurement reform agenda in Zimbabwe occurred close to a decade after the adoption of the public procurement regulations by COMESA in 2009. This article explores the obligations imposed on Zimbabwe pursuant to the public procurement regulations. This is done by identifying the public procurement principles enumerated in public procurement regulations, which are binding on member states. This article endeavours to answer the question: To what extent does the Zimbabwean legal framework conform to public procurement regulations? This article notes that the legal framework underlying public procurement in Zimbabwe, by and large, conforms to the bar set in the public procurement regulations. Nonetheless, it highlights Zimbabwe’s public procurement shortcomings. The article concludes by making possible legislative recommendations.

Fragmentation of Public Contracts and Integrity

This article explores the impact of dividing government contracts into smaller components, highlighting the risks it poses to transparency and integrity in public procurement. Contract fragmentation can obscure decision-making process regarding public expenditure, reduce healthy competition, and facilitate corruption. Real-world examples illustrate these issues. The analysis highlights the need for strengthening public procurement regulations, increasing transparency, and promoting ethical conduct to mitigate these risks. By understanding the complex relationship between contract fragmentation and integrity, decision-makers and stakeholders can better protect public resources by promoting a fairer and more transparent business environment and upholding ethical standards in public procurement.

Influence of Community Pressure on Principals’ Compliance with Procurement Regulations in Public Secondary Schools in Embu County, Kenya

Public procurement has become an issue of public attention and debate, and has been subjected to reforms, restructuring, rules and regulations. Most of developing countries have undertaken strategies to reform their procurement systems. Compliance with public procurement regulations in Kenya continues to be low in public entities despite efforts made by the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) to put in place measures to improve compliance. The study sought to analyse the influence of community pressure on Principals’ compliance with procurement regulations in Public Secondary Schools in Embu County. The study employed positivism research paradigm and a cross-sectional descriptive survey research design was adopted. The target population for the study was all the 132 public secondary schools in Embu County consisting of 132 principals, 132 deputy principals, 132 bursars, 1320 suppliers and 660 procurement committee. A sample size of 98 public secondary schools was determined by the Kothari (2013) formula for calculating small sample sizes. A sample of 490 respondents was selected using stratified random sampling by picking 1 principal, 1 deputy principal, 1 bursar, and 1 members of procurement committee and suppliers in each of the 98 secondary schools. Primary data was collected using questionnaires which were pretested for reliability and validity to determine their suitability for use in the study. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and results presented using charts and tables. Inferential statistics, correlation, multiple regression analysis were used establish the nature and magnitude of the relationships between the variables and to test the hypothesized relationships. Out of the 490 questionnaires administered three hundred and ninety five (395) were returned representing 80.6% response rate. The study indicates that majority of the respondents disagreed that community pressure influenced principals’ compliance with procurement regulations in secondary schools with an aggregate mean score of 2.85 and a standard deviation of 1.237. The null hypothesis tested was that there is no significant influence of community pressure on Principals’ compliance with procurement regulations in Public Secondary Schools in Embu County. Inferential statistics showed that the coefficient of determination was significant with a value of 0.339 and p= 0.000. The t-statistic and corresponding p-value were 10.336 and 0.000 respectively. Therefore, at P < 0.005 level of significance the null hypothesis (H0) is rejected and accepts the alternate hypotheses (HA) implying that there is a significant influence of community pressure on Principals’ compliance with procurement regulations in Public Secondary Schools in Embu County. It therefore, means that when the principals are able to manage the pressures exerted by the community then there are higher chances of the principal to be compliant with the procurement regulations. On the basis of these statistics, the study concludes that there is significant positive relationship between management of community pressure and compliance with procurement regulations. The study concluded that the principals do not succumb to the community pressure to bend the procurement regulations in the public secondary schools to favour suppliers rather they adhere to the guidelines. The suppliers to the schools also induce unethical practices like corrupting the school tendering committee members and therefore strong enforcements of laws should be implemented. The study recommends that there should be strict compliance with government regulations on public procurement since this will assist in checking procurement committee performance in public secondary schools. All schools procurement committee members should strictly adhere to procurement ethics to avoid conflict of interest in procurement matters as this can compromise procurement committee performance in public secondary schools

Discretion and public procurement outcomes in Europe*

Public procurement regulations aim to ensure the state minimizes contract award prices by specifying the processes to be used in issuing calls for tenders and award of contracts. Cost minimization goals may be complemented by ancillary objectives such as supporting small firms or disadvantaged groups. Recent theory suggests procurement regulations and practices constraining the ability to exercise discretion in awarding contracts may increase average procurement costs. Using detailed data on procurement awards in 33 European countries, we find that restrictions on exercise of discretion are associated with higher average contract prices, and that increases in prices are greater in countries with above average government effectiveness. We also show that realizing price-reducing benefits from exercising greater discretion, where permitted by law, reduces the probability small firms win contracts and continue to do so. Our findings point to a tradeoff between the potential to lower prices by exercising discretion and policies that aim to increase the likelihood SMEs are awarded contracts.

Headteachers Induction on Public Procurement Regulations and their Implementation in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya

This study sought to investigate the influence of Headteachers induction on public procurement regulations and their implementation in public secondary schools in Migwani District, Kenya. The study objective sought to determine whether the information provided during the induction on public procurement regulations was sufficient enough to influence headteachers’ effective implementation of public procurement regulations in their schools. This study is based on Social and Economic Organization theory (bureaucracy) by Max Weber (Max 1947). The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The target population consisted of 29 public secondary schools which consisted of headteachers. Two public secondary schools out of the 29 public secondary schools were used for pilot study. The sample size was 27 public secondary schools. Census was used to select a sample of 27 headteachers. The study used questionnaires as a tool for data collection. The instrument validity was tested by a pilot study. A test-retest technique was used to ascertain instrument reliability. From the findings, it was found that at least thirty-four-point eight percent (34.8%) of the headteachers which was below average said that the information given during induction training was sufficient while majority of the headteachers which was sixty-two-point two percent said that the information given during induction was not sufficient. The study concluded that comprehensive induction programs are essential for preparing headteachers to implement public procurement regulations. The study recommended that Headteachers in public secondary schools should be inducted immediately after appointment to headship positions.

Assessing the Impact and Challenges of SMEs on Albania's Economy

The SME sector in Albania has a significant impact on the country's economy. The total number of economically active enterprises in Albania increased by 1.4% in 2021 compared to 2020, reaching 104,031 enterprises. Microenterprises experienced a decrease of 5.8% compared to 2016, while small and medium-sized enterprises showed growth with an increase of 27.09% and 23.24%, respectively, in 2021 compared to 2016. SMEs in Albania play a vital role in employment generation, accounting for 60.3% of total employment in the country. While microenterprises constitute over 92% of SMEs in Albania, they employ a relatively smaller proportion of the total number of employed individuals compared to their number. Small and medium-sized enterprises have shown an increasing trend in employment, with increases of 26.79% and 22.86% respectively compared to 2016. The SME sector in Albania contributes approximately 55% of the total turnover realized in the economy. Microenterprises will generate 21.97% of the total turnover, small enterprises will contribute 30.55%, and medium-sized enterprises will account for 26.50% of the turnover in 2021. The value added by SMEs in Albania has shown an increasing trend. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises experienced growth rates of 30.12%, 66.84%, and 66.63% respectively compared to 2016. Small enterprises consistently accounted for the highest percentage of investment during the analyzed years. However, there have been fluctuations, with large enterprises taking the lead in investment in 2017 and 2018. Overall, there has been a decreasing trend in investment growth in Albania, with negative growth rates observed in 2020 and 2021. Productivity: The labor productivity of SMEs in Albania has increased every year from 2016 to 2021. Larger enterprises generally exhibit higher labor productivity compared to smaller ones, benefiting from economies of scale, resource allocation, and access to advanced technologies and systems. Albania has made progress in implementing the Small Business Act (SBA) and has achieved high average scores in areas related to SME policy and support. Efforts to create a supportive ecosystem for SMEs include improvements in the institutional and regulatory framework, operational environment, public procurement, standards and technical regulations, and internationalization of SMEs. Limited accessibility to finance, technology, and knowledge remains a significant challenge for SMEs in Albania. Addressing this challenge requires efforts to improve access to finance through specialized lending programs and loan guarantee schemes and enhance financial literacy among SME owners. In conclusion, while SMEs in Albania make a significant contribution to the economy in terms of employment, turnover, and value-added, there are areas that require further attention and support, such as access to finance and investment. Efforts to address these challenges and promote a favorable environment for SMEs can contribute to their growth, competitiveness, and overall economic development.

Restricting freedom of contract – the EU foreign subsidies regulation and its consequences for public procurement

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the recently enacted Regulation (EU) 2022/2560 of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 14, 2022, on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market (foreign subsidies regulation [FSR]) and its repercussions on the European Union (EU) public procurement marketplace and corporations from third countries. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the geopolitical and economic backgrounds for the Regulation and its efficiency.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, the authors used doctrinal and analytical legal methodologies, meticulously examining pertinent EU law sources. The authors systematically collated and scrutinized applicable literature and legislative process materials to discern the essence and substance of the norms enshrined in the law. In this study, the authors also applied a socio-legal methodology when focusing on the economic and geopolitical context surrounding the adoption of the FSR. The contextual analysis traces the evolution of changes in international cooperation and recent political shifts.FindingsImplementing the FSR should pave the way for a more equitable competitive landscape within the EU public procurement market, bolstering EU values. However, its potential to prolong public procurement procedures and create uncertainties regarding their outcomes could pose challenges, possibly affecting the effectiveness of public procurement regulations. Only time will reveal the extent of the EU’s interventionist approach and how necessary adjustments must be made to align with market demands.Social implicationsThis study highlights socially relevant aspects of the implementation of EU policies – European New Green Deal and European Industrial Policy in the context of public procurement. The analysis contained in this study concerns issues directly related to meeting the collective needs of the citizens.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first in-depth analysis of the solutions contained in the FSR in terms of geopolitical and economic aspects. Furthermore, there have been no studies so far, which have analyzed the FSR in detail from the point of view of its effectiveness. The effectiveness concept contained in this study is the authors’ own solution.

Effect of supplier appraisal on firm performance in Ghana: Views of employees of selected manufacturing firms

In Ghana, recent financial sector clean-ups and reforms have impacted the operations of several corporations in the business-to-business market. Coupled with this, several issues have been reported concerning procurement practises in the past few years. Regardless of corporate governance practises and public procurement regulations, institutions in Ghana are yet to fully realise the relevance of supplier appraisal. Grounded by the resource base theory, the study examines the effect of appraisal of suppliers’ financial stability, technical capacity to produce, adherence to systems and procedures, conformance to legislation, and suppliers’ supply chain on the performance of industrial firms in Ghana. A sample of 171 employees was drawn from a total of 250 employees. Data processing and analysis were undertaken through the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) estimator. The results clearly suggest that firms’ technical capacity does not constitute firm resources that translate to firm performance. However, firms’ financial stability, adherence to systems, conformance to legislation, and supply chains are regarded as firm resources that contribute to the overall performance of the firm. We conclude that supplier evaluation is a significant predictor of manufacturing firms’ performance.

Did pandemic responses trigger corruption in public procurement? Comparing Italy and Germany

ABSTRACT Public procurement is crucial for effective crisis responses, but is also prone to corruption. To ensure a swift provision of medical supplies in the COVID-19 pandemic, the public procurement regulations were dramatically relaxed. However, the implications for corruption require attention. This paper analyses how the regulatory responses to the crisis affected the risks and perceptions of corruption, by changing public-private interactions and the regulatory environment for public procurement. We compare the contrasting cases of Italy and Germany and triangulate legal analyses, secondary contract and survey data, and an online survey of public administrations (N = 445) and businesses (N = 175). Unexpectedly, in both countries, objective risks of corruption increased similarly. Sector-specific corruption perceptions stem from a low competitiveness of procedures, rule ambiguity, and a politicised bureaucracy. To avoid wasting resources and losing trust, regulatory responses to the crisis should include clear rules that safeguard competitive public procurement procedures and preserve bureaucratic independence.

Public Procurement Compliance in Ghana: An Upper West Region Perspective

This study aimed to contribute to the debate on Ghana’s Public Procurement Act 663 non-compliance. According to the Ghana Public Procurement Law (Act 663, 2003), compliance with public procurement regulations is mandatory. It aims to combat fraud, illegal and unethical activities in the public sector. This research examined four explanatory factors that influence compliance with public procurement rules. This study applied a quantitative research methodology, correlational research design, and cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 62 regional government procurement entities using a structured questionnaire. Correlation and regression analysis was conducted to test the research questions and hypotheses. The general results of this study indicated mixed findings. Familiarity (H1) and monitoring (H3) were found to be statistically significant in compliance, whereas professionalism (H2) and sanctions (H4) were not statistically significant in compliance and were not supported by the study hypotheses. Hence, the mixed findings on the relationship between professionalism and compliance rules, sanctions and compliance rules require further investigation.

Obtaining the best value for money through procurement planning: can procurement regulatory compliance intervene?

PurposeWhile empirical studies establish the importance of procurement planning in achieving value for money (VfM) in procurement, there is scant evidence demonstrating a link between procurement planning and procurement regulatory compliance, and thus VfM. As a result, this study examined how procurement regulatory compliance can be applied when procurement practitioners in Tanzania seek to maximize VfM through procurement planning.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional research design was adopted from which data were collected once through a structured questionnaire. The structural equation modeling (SEM) and Hayes' PROCESS macro test for mediation analysis were used to analyze the collected data.FindingsProcurement planning has a significant and positive relationship with procurement regulatory compliance (ß = 0.491, p < 0.001). Procurement regulatory compliance has a significant and positive relationship with VfM in procurement (ß = 0.586, p < 0.001). Results also show that procurement planning is a significant positive predictor of VfM (ß = 0.257, p = 0.005). Furthermore, the bootstrapping confidence intervals revealed that procurement regulatory compliance significantly mediates the relationship between procurement planning and VfM in procurement.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the study was able to accomplish its overall objective, it is limited in terms of the geographical setting under which the study was conducted. Hence, the generalization of research results should be made with caution as each country has specific public procurement laws and regulations governing the conduct of procurement activities in the public sector.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the growing debate on achieving VfM in procurement activities. The study adds to the literature on public procurement by establishing the mediation effect of procurement regulatory compliance on the quest toward achieving VfM in public procurement.

Assessment of Barriers and Strategies for the Enhancement of Off-Site Construction in India: An ISM Approach

The tremendous urbanization pace of India calls for higher efficiency in housing development, currently typified by low productivity and poor sustainability performance. Although off-site construction (OSC) is a method of widely acknowledged efficiency, its current uptake in India is very low, and the factors hindering its wider adaptation have not been comprehensively researched. This paper employs interviews with experts, a questionnaire survey and the interpretive structural modelling (ISM) technique to achieve the following objectives: first, to reveal which factors are perceived as top barriers for OSC implementation in India; second, to develop a hierarchical model presenting the causality between these factors; and third, to propose the initiatives required for barriers with high impact on other barriers to be most efficiently tackled. The survey findings show that the barriers perceived as most important from the professionals’ point of view are design inflexibility, difficulties in storage and transportation, supply chain weaknesses, initial capital requirements and lack of skills. The ISM reveals, though, that the underlying causes for these barriers lie with factors such as public procurement regulations and the fragmentation of the sector. Therefore, the latter are the barriers that need to be targeted in priority, as per the suggested strategies.

Influence of Strategic Organizational Practices on the Performance of Electronic Procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya

Electronic procurement systems have proven themselves within various government organizations as an effective tool for instituting procurement reforms and establishing a fully transparent and open procurement environment. There has been growing interest in adopting of various strategic organizational practices for the purpose of improving the performance of electronic procurement in both private and public sector. The main objective of this study was to assess the influence of Strategic Organizational practices on the performance of electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya. The specific objectives of this study were; to establish the influence of Information Communication Technology infrastructure on the performance of electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya; to establish the influence of the employees' Information Technology competency on the performance of electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya to establish the influence of public procurement regulations on the performance of electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya and finally to establish the influence of managerial commitment on the performance of electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya. The study used a descriptive research design to obtain information from the selected respondents on the current status of the phenomena under investigation. The study was carried out in Tana River County in Kenya. The sample size of 116 representing 30% of the total population of 385 drawn from Procurement department staff, Accounts Department Staff, ICT department staff, Administrative Officers, and Prequalified Contractors and Suppliers. The respondents were purposively selected to participate in the study because they were the leading implementers of Strategic Organizational practices. The researcher used a questionnaire as a tool for data collection in the study. These entailed both primary data and secondary data. Preliminary data was collected from the sampled respondents, while Secondary data was collected from textbooks, journals, and magazines. The study included quantitative analysis of the data collected to help identify the gap in knowledge related assessment of the influence of Strategic Organizational practices on electronic procurement performance in Tana River County Government, Kenya. Quantitative analysis was done with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 and was presented through the use of frequency distribution, charts, and tables. The study found that Strategic Organizational practices positively and significantly influenced the performance of Electronic procurement in Tana River County Government, Kenya; ICT infrastructure with (β =0.307, p˂ 0.05); Employees IT Competence with (β =0.582, p˂ 0.05); Public Procurement regulations (β =0.898, p˂ 0.05) and Managerial Commitment (β =0.427, p˂ 0.05).

SOCIAL CLAUSES AS AN INSTRUMENT SUPPORTING THE SOCIAL ECONOMY SECTOR

Based on the research results, the article presents opinions of the representatives of social economy sector and local authorities on the current use of social clauses indicated in public procurement regulations, which are a tool oriented at increase of participation of the social economy sector in the public procurement market. The research confirms low usage of social clauses mechanism. The main constraints in use of these tools by local authorities include: lack of sufficient knowledge about social benefits arising from providing social services by social economy units and fear of using a legal measure that limits competition of entities operating on the free market. The respondents underline that information about the goals of social economy and the its potential are the basis for activities aimed at increasing interest in using the social clause mechanism.

Introducing environmental decision-making criteria to foster Green Public Procurement in Peru.

Governments in the Global South have recently started to align their public procurement regulations considering Green Public Procurement (GPP) guidelines to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 12. In this context, it is important to establish environmental criteria to help decision making after analyzing the variety of options available in the market. Thus, using as examples two of the most acquired products in public procurement in Peru: Medium-density particleboard melamine furniture and paper offset, the aim of this paper is to determine the main environmental hotspots and therefore show the path to foster GPP in Peru. To achieve this goal, a Life Cycle Assessment was carried out considering it is a suitable environmental management tool to quantify environmental impacts. For this, a set of scenarios were modeled and compared for each of the two products selected, covering different geographical and technological options that are currently purchased by the Peruvian government. Results demonstrated that it is possible to attain considerable reductions in the environmental impact of the products analyzed if the main critical stages throughout their life cycle are identified and adequate solutions are applied to avoid burden shifting. Moreover, we argue that it is important for developing countries to carry out case-specific life-cycle inventories as they provide higher-quality information based on the particular characteristics of regional or local industries, allowing the determination of more realistic environmental impact mitigation benchmarks. Nevertheless, the inclusion of lifecycle-based criteria in GPP must be performed cautiously, avoiding command and control regulations, as numerous challenges remain in terms of capacity building, environmental awareness, and environmental information, and transparency in emerging and developing economies. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:1206-1220. © 2021 SETAC.

ASSESSMENT OF IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND DISPOSAL LAW ON PROCUREMENT PROCESS AT MACHAKOS UNIVERSITY, MACHAKOS COUNTY, KENYA

For efficacy in public funds utilisation, the procurement process needs to be regulated, hence the enactment of Public Procurement Regulations of 2015. Nevertheless, of late billions of tax payer's money in Kenya have been lost by Public institutions through cancellation of contracts, uncompleted projects and services not rendered. This study sought to assess the implementation of public procurement and disposal law on procurement process at Machakos University, Kenya. The study objectives were: to determine the Machakos University procurement staffs’ awareness on procurement regulations, professionalism on procurement process, ethical practices on procurement process and the level of stakeholders’ involvement on procurement process. The study sought to fill the lacuna in the Kenya procurement literature as to whether ratification and application of the PPAD Act, 2015 has had influence in the procurement practices in the institutes of higher learning. Theories relevant to this study were the Agency theory and the Institutional theory. The study targeted a population of 86 procurement staff and members of consumer departments. A sample of 50 participants was selected using both purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data collection tools were questionnaires and interview schedules. The study used mixed methods and employed the concurrent triangulation research design which enabled the researcher to use more than one design to cross-validate, confirm and corroborate findings. Data analysis was performed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The study concluded that availability of procurement manual, staff in service training and ICT integration to the procurement process had a statistically significant influence on compliance to the principles and protocols governing public procurement process. The study recommends further research on the inherent nature of poor concept application due poor knowledge. Article visualizations: