It turns out that the procurement of the state and municipalities is not only a reason for burning shame due to numerous scandals and multi-million losses to the state treasury. This year, the Procurement Awards of the Year were presented in 10 categories, the LETA agency reported on the "Iepirkumi.lv" portal.
The awards were presented in honor of the most significant events in the field of procurement and outstanding representatives of the industry, continuing the tradition interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The awards were given in the following categories: "Procurement Specialist of the Year", "Supplier of the Year", "Customer of the Year in the Public Sector", "Customer of the Year in the Private Sector", "Municipality of the Year", "Promotion of Competition of the Year", especially touching are the nominations "Educator of the Year in Procurement", "Challenge of the Year", "Contribution of the Year" and "Procurement Award of the Year in Medicine".
For example, in the category "Customer of the Year in the Public Sector", the winner was the state enterprise "Latvijas valsts ceļi" as a customer that demonstrated a strategic approach to improving the efficiency of the institution, reducing costs, and organizing thoughtful procurements that contribute to the development of the organization.
In the category "Customer of the Year in the Private Sector", the award went to the company "Tele2", as it purposefully implemented or improved procurement standards and best practice principles in its organization, and its experience provides valuable insights for the development of the public procurement system.
In the category "Municipality of the Year", the Liepāja City Council won. The organizers of the competition noted that the municipality ensures effective and thoughtful organization of procurements, a centralized and standardized approach to their management, uses simplified solutions, promotes competition, and optimizes resource use.
In the category "Promotion of Competition of the Year", the award was received by the enterprise "Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks" as a public customer that purposefully improved the organization of procurements to reduce barriers to competition, for example, increasing the number of bidders, developed dialogue with market participants, and as a result achieved better prices, higher quality offers, and a more efficient procurement process.
In the category "Challenge of the Year", the award went to the "Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital" (RAKUS). The award was given for managing a procurement or procurement contract in which the customer demonstrated the ability to overcome difficulties, creating a model of good practice for others and achieving a successful outcome.
In the category "Educator of the Year in Procurement", the award was received by Liga Jaunozola, a lawyer in the Department of Law Enforcement of the Procurement Supervision Bureau. The award was given to a person who, through their public activities, made a significant contribution to the development and strengthening of the professional potential of the procurement industry.
In the category "Procurement Specialist of the Year", the award went to Lita Kalniņa, the deputy head of the legal department for procurement of the Smiltene municipality. The award was given to a long-standing or highly professional specialist who significantly improved procurement management in the institution, successfully led particularly complex or risky procurements, and implemented innovative, environmentally friendly, or socially responsible procurements.
In the category "Supplier of the Year", the award was received by the company "Belss". The award was given to the supplier that, as a result of a public procurement, implemented or contributed to the development of progressive technological solutions and their practical application, making a significant contribution to digitalization, process efficiency, or safety, including developing or applying dual-use technologies.
In the category "Procurement Award of the Year in Medicine", the winner was the Children's Clinical University Hospital. The award was given to a public customer in the healthcare sector that, through procurements, ensured a significant improvement in the quality, accessibility, or safety of patient treatment, implementing innovative or value-oriented solutions while demonstrating a professional approach to effective resource use, risk management, and ensuring sustainable care.
According to the award regulations, its goals are to popularize best procurement practices, inspire industry specialists, demonstrate that quality work is noticed and valued, strengthen professional pride, and enhance the prestige of the procurement field in the eyes of society. The organizer of the award is the portal "Iepirkumi.lv".
