Conceptual framework for sustainable public procurement process in construction industry

Abstract

Public Procurement Process (Public PP) mainly focuses on the satisfaction of stakeholders in line with development objectives of the country. The importance of public expenditures within the world economy has stimulated and established interest in how public money is spent, with an emphasis on transparency and openness through the Public PP. This was identified as critical challenges with prevailing gaps of the Public PP when focuses on Sri Lankan construction industry. In this context Sustainable Public Procurement Process (SPPP) in construction industry emerge to Sri Lanka with numbers of benefits. Though it is a new concept to the developing countries, SPPP is not another type of procurement; it rather seeks to address the environmental, social and economic consequences of procurement actions. Moreover, the developed countries have implemented the SPPP successfully as a solution to challenges and gaps of existing Public PP. Hence, the SPPP has identified as one of most accepted alternative method to address the challenges and gaps of the Public PP in Sri Lankan construction industry. Thus, this paper has proposed a conceptual framework for the SPPP based on secondary data. Further paper explored the framework in line with significant stages of Conceptual, Planning, Tendering/ Purchasing, Implementation, and Closeout with due consideration to the relationship of these all five stages of the Public PP. Relevant areas scrutinised through the comprehensive literature review to develop the proposed conceptual framework. Further, experts in the field of construction procurement also consulted to gather the opinions in order to evaluate the feasibility of conceptual framework.