Public Procurement and Contract Management

Course overview

Public procurement is where much government spending turns into roads, medicines, schools and services, and also where many corruption scandals begin. Officers must apply detailed procurement law, achieve value for money and withstand audits, reviews and public scrutiny. This public procurement course gives a complete, practical grounding in procurement and contract management in the public sector.

The first week follows the procurement process: legal and institutional frameworks, procurement planning and needs assessment, choosing procurement methods, preparing tender documents, managing the tender process, and evaluating and awarding tenders, including handling complaints and review. The second week covers contract management: contract administration and monitoring, performance management and remedies, variations, payment approvals, risk across the contract lifecycle, dispute resolution, ethics and anti-corruption, e-procurement and sustainable procurement. Practical exercises use tender documents and contracts typical of national and county governments.

Participants leave able to manage public procurement and contracts in line with the law and to deliver value for money.

What you will be able to do

• Apply the legal and institutional framework for public procurement
• Prepare procurement plans and needs assessments
• Choose appropriate procurement methods
• Prepare tender documents and manage the tender process
• Evaluate and award tenders fairly and defensibly
• Administer and monitor contracts effectively
• Manage variations, payments, risks and disputes
• Apply ethics and anti-corruption safeguards

Who should attend

For procurement officers, tender committee members, user departments and contract managers in public institutions.

• Public procurement officers
• Tender and evaluation committee members
• Contract managers
• Project managers in public bodies
• Accounting officers
• Internal auditors
• County procurement staff

Course outline

Week 1

Week 2

Fees are per participant in US dollars and cover tuition, course materials and your certificate. Travel and accommodation are not included.