Public procurement is often still based on price, although quality is now a key criterion in procurement. There is a strong need for a model with practices that promote dynamic quality with leadership that drives a culture of improvement. One possible such approach to public procurement is to start with a quality model that drives that culture.

Case study on procurement of elderly care

In this research project, we have studied in a case study how procurement of elderly care could be improved by using the GUM quality model, which during the project has been developed into SIQ Managementmodel.

The project included training all parties in the quality model and conducting workshops to see what a well-functioning partnership between the municipality and the tenderer could look like. 

A partnership based on a quality model presupposes that the municipality making the procurement itself works according to the chosen structure, so that the partnership is built into an already functioning way of working. It is important to discuss what a partnership means and how it should be expressed initially.

Advice for future public procurement

Given the results of the research project, some advice for future public procurement has been formulated. Among other things, the parties should consider the following: 

• A common thread throughout the procurement process 
• A discussion on the minimum acceptable level of delivery, i.e. which "shall" requirements should be set.
• To "work in" the quality model and not just add it to the procurement documents.
• An early integration of partnerships in the procurement documents in order to work in good cooperation during the contract period
• Training of all stakeholders in the chosen quality model

The report is written by Carolina Camén, researcher at CTF, Center for Services Research and lecturer at Karlstad University Business School, and Anders Fundin , research director at SIQ and professor at Mälardalen University.