🌍💼 Professionalization of public procurement – under this theme, a conference on State Procurement Policy was held at the Ministry of Development and Technology. This is the latest event focused on the professionalization of public procurement. The Ministry emphasizes the importance of professionalization, which supports the increase of green 🌱 and innovative 💡 procurement.
📢 Deputy Minister Jacek Tomczak highlighted that further support for the professionalization of public procurement market participants will be a key issue for both the Ministry and the Public Procurement Office in the coming years. Dr. Mariusz Filipek, the Plenipotentiary for Deregulation and Economic Dialogue, reminded that a few days ago, the first meeting of the Interministerial Team for Green Public Procurement took place, with the goal of increasing the number of green public procurements in government administration. 🏛🌱
📢 The discussion touched on the use of standards in public procurement (Prof. Włodzimierz Dzierżanowski), practical aspects and benefits that can be gained from conducting preliminary market consultations (Ms. Katarzyna Woźniak), as well as the potential for shaping new standards through green procurements (Ms. Klaudia Mańka). Selected regulations of public procurement law were also discussed, with a focus on how their appropriate use can contribute to greater flexibility in conducting procedures and smoother contract execution (Ms. Izabela Fundowicz).
During the conference, participants had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the World Bank’s 🌍 guidelines on implementing ProcurCompEU – the European Competency Framework for Public Procurement Specialists in Poland, along with reflections from a Polish participant of the program (Ms. Anna Krasińska).
🏆 Awards were also presented in the second edition of the “Public Procurement Expert” competition. The winners are: 🏅 SME-Friendly Procurer: 🥇 Włocławek County, Special Mention: Stępnica Municipality
🏅 Green Procurement: 🥇 Central Statistical Office
🏅 Highly Professional Procurer: 🥇 Koszalin City Hall
In Poland, public
procurement is governed by a network of institutions, each with a specific role
in regulating, managing, or implementing procurement procedures, including the
promotion of Green Public Procurement (GPP). Green Public Procurement refers to
public purchasing that takes into account environmental sustainability and in
the ChemClimCircle project we focus on the criteria related to reducing Chemicals,
minimizing Climate impact and promoting Circularity.
Key Challenges and
Developments in GPP in Poland:
Awareness and Capacity Building: Public authorities in Poland are working
to increase awareness and expertise on GPP through training, workshops,
and guidelines.
GPP Implementation: The integration of GPP in Poland is
still evolving, with some sectors (e.g., waste management, energy) seeing
more success than others. The Public Procurement Office(UZP), Ministry
of Development and Technology (MRiT) and local governments are focusing on
creating more standard templates and criteria for green procurement.
EU Influence: Poland’s green procurement policies are
heavily influenced by the EU, especially with the growing emphasis on the
European Green Deal. This is pushing national and local authorities to
adopt more ambitious GPP strategies.
Distribution of responsibilities among
many institutional actors:
In Poland there are many institutions that play more or less significant
role in promoting and implementing GPP. Sometimes synergies may be a
benefit of the system, however, shared responsibility may dilute the strength
of the measures implemented.
Here is a map of
key institutions involved in Public Procurement in Poland, with special
attention to their role in fostering Green Public Procurement:
1. Ministry of
Development and Technology (Ministerstwo Rozwoju i Technologii, MRiT)
Role in Public Procurement: This ministry oversees national
development strategies, including sustainable development and innovation
policies. It coordinates the implementation of EU funds and procurement
policies.
Green Public Procurement: The ministry encourages GPP as part of
Poland’s national strategy for sustainable development. It supports
integrating eco-friendly solutions into public procurement by aligning
national policies with EU goals on sustainability and climate change.
2. Public Procurement Office (Urząd
Zamówień Publicznych, UZP)
Role in Public Procurement: The Public Procurement Office (UZP) is
the main governmental body responsible for the overall regulation,
monitoring, and enforcement of public procurement laws and policies in
Poland. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that public contracts are
awarded fairly and transparently.
Green Public Procurement: UZP promotes sustainable public
procurement practices, including Green Public Procurement (GPP). The
office provides guidance on how to integrate environmental criteria into
tender procedures, offers training, and supports public authorities in
adopting sustainable practices in procurement.
3. Ministry of
Climate and Environment (Ministerstwo Klimatu i Środowiska, MKiŚ)
Role in Public Procurement: The Ministry of Climate and Environment
provides guidance and oversight on public procurement in sectors like
energy and infrastructure, ensuring that these activities comply with
national environmental regulations and sustainability strategies.
Green Public Procurement: The Ministry promotes the integration of
environmental criteria in public contracts, focusing on renewable energy,
energy efficiency, and sustainable infrastructure to reduce the
environmental impact of government procurement.
4. Ministry of Health (Ministerstwo Zdrowia, MZ)
Rola w zamówieniach publicznych:
Ministerstwo Zdrowia zarządza zamówieniami na potrzeby systemu opieki
zdrowotnej, w tym na leki, sprzęt medyczny i infrastrukturę szpitalną.
Zielone zamówienia publiczne:
Ministerstwo dąży do wprowadzenia bardziej zrównoważonych praktyk w
sektorze zdrowia, w tym zmniejszenia zużycia energii w szpitalach oraz
stosowania ekologicznych materiałów w placówkach medycznych. Dąży także do
ograniczenia zużycia jednorazowego plastiku w szpitalach oraz promowania
bardziej ekologicznych technologii w opiece zdrowotnej.
5. Ministry of Funds and Regional Development (Ministerstwo Funduszy i Polityki Regionalnej, MFPR)
Rola w zamówieniach publicznych:
Ministerstwo Funduszy i Polityki Regionalnej nadzoruje wdrażanie funduszy
unijnych i regionalnych, w tym duże projekty infrastrukturalne, budowlane
oraz inwestycje wspierające rozwój regionalny.
Zielone zamówienia publiczne:
Ministerstwo aktywnie wspiera GPP poprzez kierowanie funduszy unijnych na
projekty oparte na zrównoważonym rozwoju, w tym inwestycje w energię
odnawialną, transport ekologiczny i modernizację infrastruktury pod kątem
zwiększenia efektywności energetycznej.
6. Ministry of Agriculture (Ministerstwo Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi, MRRW)
Role in Public Procurement: The Ministry of Agriculture manages
public procurement related to agricultural services, food safety, and
rural development projects. This includes contracts for infrastructure
supporting rural areas, agricultural technologies, and public food
procurement programs.
Green Public Procurement: The Ministry has a key role in promoting
sustainable agricultural practices through GPP, focusing on the procurement
of eco-friendly agricultural inputs, sustainable food production
methods, and reducing the environmental impact of rural development
projects. Their role is critical in driving the transition to sustainable
farming, aligned with EU agricultural policies.
7. Ministry of Infrastructure (Ministerstwo Infrastruktury, MI)
Role in Public Procurement: The Ministry of Infrastructure handles
procurement related to transport infrastructure, such as roads,
railways, ports, and public transportation systems. It is responsible for
large-scale infrastructure projects, including public tenders for
construction and maintenance.
Green Public Procurement: GPP initiatives within the Ministry
focus on reducing the environmental impact of infrastructure projects by
incorporating sustainable construction materials, energy-efficient
transportation solutions, and eco-friendly designs for public
infrastructure. This aligns with EU standards for sustainable transport
and climate goals, especially under the European Green Deal.
8. Ministry of Digital Affairs (Ministerstwo Cyfryzacji, MC)
Role in Public Procurement: The Ministry oversees the procurement
of digital technologies, IT infrastructure, and telecommunications
systems for the public sector. This includes e-government services,
digital security, and cloud services.
Green Public Procurement: The Ministry promotes GPP by focusing on
the procurement of energy-efficient IT systems, environmentally
friendly data centers, and the reduction of e-waste. It also encourages
the adoption of sustainable digital solutions in government
services, such as paperless offices and low-energy consumption data
storage systems.
9. General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (Generalna Dyrekcja Dróg Krajowych i Autostrad, GDDKiA)
Role in Public Procurement: GDDKiA is responsible for managing the
construction, maintenance, and expansion of Poland’s national road
infrastructure. It conducts large public tenders for road construction,
repairs, and associated services.
Green Public Procurement: GDDKiA increasingly focuses on GPP,
prioritizing the use of eco-friendly road construction materials, energy-efficient
lighting systems, and minimizing the environmental footprint of
road construction projects. It is also involved in promoting sustainable
transportation infrastructure like electric vehicle charging stations
along highways.
10. General Directorate for Environmental Protection (Generalna Dyrekcja Ochrony Środowiska, GDOŚ)
Role in Public Procurement: GDOŚ oversees procurement related to environmental
conservation projects, biodiversity protection, and environmental impact
assessments. It is responsible for projects that ensure compliance
with national and EU environmental regulations.
Green Public Procurement: GDOŚ plays a leading role in
implementing GPP by integrating strict environmental standards in
public tenders, focusing on nature conservation, sustainable land
use, and environmentally responsible project execution. It ensures
that all public procurement aligns with national environmental protection
goals.
11. National Centre for Research and Development (Narodowe Centrum Badań i Rozwoju, NCBiR)
Role in Public Procurement: NCBiR handles the procurement of research
and innovation projects, funding research institutions, universities,
and enterprises engaged in cutting-edge technologies. This includes
research contracts and public tenders for technological innovation.
Green Public Procurement: NCBiR promotes innovation in green
technologies, funding projects that aim to reduce environmental
impacts, improve energy efficiency, and develop renewable energy sources.
Its GPP focus is on sustainable innovation, such as funding
research on eco-friendly technologies and climate-resilient
infrastructure.
12. The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (Narodowy Fundusz Ochrony Środowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej, NFOŚiGW)
Role in Public Procurement: This organization manages environmental
funds and provides financial support for environmental projects. It is
responsible for environmental protection initiatives across Poland.
Green Public Procurement: NFOŚiGW plays a supporting role in GPP
by financing projects that include sustainable procurement practices,
especially in sectors like water management, energy, and waste management.
The fund encourages public entities to include green criteria in contracts.
13. The Energy Regulatory Office (Urząd Regulacji Energetyki, URE)
Role in Public Procurement: This office regulates the energy market
in Poland, overseeing electricity and gas sectors.
Green Public Procurement: URE supports the inclusion of green
energy requirements in public procurement, especially in energy-related
contracts. They help public bodies meet the requirements for renewable
energy sourcing and energy efficiency, key components of GPP.
14. The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (Polska Agencja Rozwoju Przedsiębiorczości, PARP)
Role in Public Procurement: PARP supports the development of small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Poland, including their
participation in public procurement.
Green Public Procurement: PARP promotes GPP by helping businesses
develop green products and services that can be offered in public tenders.
The agency also educates SMEs on how to meet green criteria to participate
in eco-friendly procurement opportunities.
Role in Public Procurement: NIK is responsible for auditing public
institutions, including their public procurement practices.
Green Public Procurement: As part of its audits, NIK ensures that
public institutions follow both national and EU regulations on GPP. It
assesses the integration of green criteria and monitors how sustainable
procurement policies are applied in practice.
16. National Appeal Chamber (Krajowa Izba Odwoławcza, KIO)
Role in Public Procurement: KIO is an independent institution that
reviews appeals related to public procurement procedures. It ensures the
legal correctness of procurement processes, resolves disputes, and ensures
fair competition.
Green Public Procurement: While KIO does not directly implement
GPP, it plays an important role in upholding environmental regulations
in public procurement processes. It ensures that any procurement-related
disputes concerning environmental or green procurement criteria are fairly
adjudicated, supporting the broader GPP goals.
17. Government Administration Service Centre (Centrum Obsługi Administracji Rządowej, COAR)
Role in Public Procurement: COAR manages procurement for government
offices, handling contracts for administrative services, office
supplies, technology, and building management.
Green Public Procurement: COAR implements GPP by focusing on sustainable
office management, including the procurement of energy-efficient
buildings, eco-friendly office supplies, and reduced energy
consumption in administrative services. It aligns with government
goals to create greener workplaces across public institutions.
18. Interministerial Team for Green Public Procurement (Międzyresortowy Zespół do spraw Zielonych Zamówień Publicznych, MZZZP)
Role in Public
Procurement: This
team coordinates GPP initiatives across different ministries, ensuring
that green public procurement strategies are integrated into national
procurement policies.
Green Public
Procurement: The
Interministerial Team promotes the adoption of green criteria in public
tenders across all sectors, aligning them with EU sustainability goals.
The team works to standardize GPP practices and ensure that ministries
adopt eco-friendly procurement strategies, enhancing Poland’s efforts
toward sustainability. Their role includes developing guidelines,
providing training, and ensuring that green procurement is widely
implemented in both national and local public procurement processes.
19. Local Government Units (Samorządy, JST)
Role in Public Procurement: Local governments in Poland, such as
municipalities and regional councils, are responsible for public
procurement at the local level, particularly in areas like construction,
transportation, and public services.
Green Public Procurement: Local authorities are increasingly
incorporating GPP into their procurement practices, especially in projects
related to transportation, building energy efficiency, and waste
management. Many local governments work with the Ministry of Development
and UZP to align with national GPP strategies.
20. Public Sector Institutions (Organizacje Sektora Publicznego, OSP)
Role in Public Procurement: Public Sector Institutionsin Poland,
such as universities, museums and other not controlled by local
authorities, are responsible for large portion of public procurement at
the local level, particularly in areas like construction, transportation,
and services.
Green Public Procurement: Public Sector Institutionsare
increasingly incorporating GPP into their procurement practices,
especially in projects related to transportation, building energy
efficiency, and waste management. Many public institutions work with the
Ministry of Development, Ministry of Science, Ministry of Climate &
Environment and UZP to incorporate GPP into their procurement strategies.
21. Environmental NGOs and Civil Society Organizations (Organizacje Pozarządowe i Społeczeństwo Obywatelskie, NGO)
Role in Public Procurement: Although not formal government bodies,
NGOs and civil society organizations often influence public procurement by
lobbying for greener policies and practices.
Green Public Procurement: These organizations advocate for
stricter environmental standards in procurement processes and work with
governmental bodies to ensure that GPP is a priority in national and local
procurement strategies.
22. European Union (EU)
Role in Public Procurement: Poland is a member of the EU, which
plays a critical role in shaping public procurement regulations. EU
directives, such as the 2014 Public Procurement Directives,
influence Poland’s national procurement laws.
Green Public Procurement: The EU sets targets and provides
guidelines for GPP across member states, including Poland. EU funding
programs, like those under the European Green Deal, often
require green criteria in public procurement projects, especially when
financing infrastructure, energy, and public transportation.
23. World Bank
Role in Public
Procurement: The World Bank supports public
procurement through financing large-scale projects in infrastructure,
education, and environmental protection. It provides guidelines and
frameworks to ensure that procurement processes are transparent,
competitive, and aligned with international best practices.
Green Public
Procurement: The
World Bank plays a pivotal role in encouraging sustainable procurement in
Poland by financing projects that integrate environmental sustainability.
It promotes the use of GPP by offering technical assistance and resources
for projects that focus on climate
resilience, renewable energy, and sustainable development.
Through its Green
Procurement Framework, the World Bank supports the
integration of eco-friendly practices into public tenders, particularly in
large infrastructure and environmental projects.
In conclusion, Poland’s public procurement ecosystem
involves several key institutions that manage, regulate, and promote GPP. The
government’s focus on sustainability, combined with EU directives and funding
incentives, is driving progress toward integrating environmental concerns into
public contracts.
For more information about the ChemClimCircle project and how it can help, or how you can get involved fill in the contact form here, visit our website and follow us on social media. Let’s work together for a sustainable future! 🌍🌿🔄
