Course overview
Government procurement teams must obtain goods, works and services while meeting statutory duties for fairness, competition, transparency, value for money and public accountability. Weak tender documentation, unclear evaluation criteria, unmanaged conflicts of interest or poor records can lead to supplier challenges, audit findings, delayed projects and contracts that fail to deliver required outcomes. Procurement staff need a disciplined process that can withstand scrutiny from oversight bodies, unsuccessful bidders, auditors and the public.
This course develops the practical knowledge required to plan, run and manage public tenders under a rules-based procurement system. Participants examine the procurement cycle from needs assessment and market analysis through specification development, solicitation, bid receipt, evaluation, award, contract management and supplier performance review. They apply recognised sources including the UNCITRAL Model Law, WTO Government Procurement Agreement principles, OECD public procurement guidance and ISO 20400 sustainable procurement principles, while learning how to align these with applicable local legislation and organisational procedures.
Teaching combines focused instructor briefings with public-sector cases, document reviews, tender simulations, group decision-making and structured application planning. Participants work with realistic scenarios such as infrastructure works, IT systems, health equipment, professional services and framework agreements. Across the course, they develop components of a tender file, including a procurement plan, evaluation model, solicitation structure, evaluation record and contract performance approach.
The course is suited to procurement personnel who already participate in purchasing or tender processes and now need stronger command of regulated public procurement. It is also relevant to technical evaluators, project managers, finance staff and contract managers whose decisions contribute to defensible tender outcomes.
