Public procurement by central purchasing bodies, competition and SMEs: towards a more dynamic model?

By drawing on the data and evidence related to a recent annulment, following the complaint of a small local SME, in an Italian administrative court of a large, limited-lots, tender published by the Italian largest Central Purchasing Body, we review the evidence for aggregation and bundling strategies of public procurement tenders in the light of the negative impact they generate on SME participation. We conclude by suggesting that an optimal strategy of centralization, which has several benefits, to survive requires limiting its bundling temptation.

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On the Problem of Quality Enforcement in Centralized Public Procurement

Journal of Public Finance and Public Choice ◽

10.1332/251569213x15664519748631 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 145-155

Author(s):

Gian Luigi Albano

Keyword(s):

Public Procurement ◽

Aggregate Demand ◽

Effective Solution ◽

Organizational Model ◽

Procurement Process ◽

Central Purchasing ◽

Quality Enforcement ◽

Demand Aggregation

Abstract Demand aggregation is widely recognized as a efficiency-enhancing solution in public procurement. The technique of framework agreements represents possibly the most effective solution to struck a balance between contract standardization and customization. Central purchasing organizations in many countries are progressively relying on framework agreements to aggregate demand of different public buyers. By splitting the procurement process (until the award phase) between separate entities, such an organizational model in public procurement may, however, generate low incentives to enforce quality at the contract execution stage. In this paper, we review some evidence of contract mismanagement borrowing from the experience of the National Frame Contracts awarded by Consip S.p.A. in Italy and also discuss possible remedies.

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Short-term volume and turgor regulation in yeast

Essays in Biochemistry ◽

10.1042/bse0450147 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 147-160 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Jörg Schaber ◽

Edda Klipp

Keyword(s):

Dynamic Model ◽

Volume Change ◽

Volume Regulation ◽

Time Course ◽

Osmotic Shock ◽

Intracellular Concentration ◽

Short Term ◽

Hydrodynamic Property ◽

Turgor Regulation ◽

Thermodynamic Framework

Volume is a highly regulated property of cells, because it critically affects intracellular concentration. In the present chapter, we focus on the short-term volume regulation in yeast as a consequence of a shift in extracellular osmotic conditions. We review a basic thermodynamic framework to model volume and solute flows. In addition, we try to select a model for turgor, which is an important hydrodynamic property, especially in walled cells. Finally, we demonstrate the validity of the presented approach by fitting the dynamic model to a time course of volume change upon osmotic shock in yeast.

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