Pre-commercial procurement in Lithuania.
About this good practice
In 2015, Lithuanian Government has established the Basis of Pre-commercial Procurement, which enables public sector to invest into the establishment of new, innovative products in the country. The Basis of Pre-commercial Procurement sets background for public procurers to recognise its demand to ask business for necessary solutions.
Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (hereinafter – MITA) is entitled to be a coordinating authority for pre-commercial procurement. MITA asses documents and gives permission for the performance of PCP, takes part in the meetings of the commission of contracting authority regarding PCP, consults (contracting authorities and bidders, co-funds, organizes training about PCP, monitors, collects, systematises and analyses data on accomplished and ongoing PCP. First pre-commercial procurement “Creation of day/night surveillance device to be used for intelligence purposes” was launched last year and is still undergoing. But we are proud of that about 20 PCP at the beginning of 2018 due to EU Structural Funds support.
This instrument sets favourable financial conditions for public procurers to start using pre-commercial procurement widely. While this practice is quite new is foreseen to dedicate some more activities: seminars, competence centre will be organized, the methodologies.
Resources needed
- Public contractor’s own funds.
- Public contractor’s own funds + MITA co-financing.
- EU Structural Funds Instrument "Pre-Commercial Purchases".
- Horizon 2020 program.
Evidence of success
The practice is still ongoing, but so far it has been 89 proposals provided to MITA by the 1st call (until 10th July, 2017).
Until the Autumn 2017 the committee will evaluate all the tenders and will award around 20 for contracting to the winning participants.
Potential for learning or transfer
The potential of learning or transfer of a well-performing R&I system through the European regions for PCP would be the right approach depended on a variety of factors:
Political/high-level support,
Size of authority,
Knowledge and experience in PPI,
Availability of innovative products and services in regional markets.
However, in order to remove administrative burdens for SMEs to participate to the cross-border PCPs, the consortia must organise the R&D work into phases that are of manageable size also for smaller companies to participate, the consortia should be encouraged to use light submission templates for companies to bid to the PCP call for tender, as well as not to use unnecessary stringent selection criteria such as company size and annual turn-over as selection criteria for companies to submit PCP bids.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Ministry of Economy