Review: Public Procurement Excellence (PPE) Programme

About PPE+ Europe 2024–2028

Building on the European Commission’s goal to professionalize public procurement, the Austrian Federal Procurement Agency (BBG), together with the WU Executive Academy, successfully operated the PPE programs from 2018 to 2022. Now, the next phase begins: PPE+ Europe 2024–2028, funded by the European Commission under the Single Market Programme (SMP). This initiative offers advanced training for experienced public buyers and managers in central purchasing bodies across the European Economic Area (EEA) and SMP-participating neighboring countries. This year, 44 participants from 21 European countries have taken part.
PPE+ Europe 2024-2028 und ProcurCompEU | Bundesbeschaffung GmbH

One day on SPP with naBe

Chapter I: Introduction to Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP)

Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) refers to the integration of environmental, social, and economic considerations into the purchasing decisions made by public authorities. It extends beyond the mere acquisition of goods and services, considering their entire lifecycle impacts and striving to align public expenditure with long-term sustainability objectives.
SPP is founded on three core pillars:

• Ecological compatibility – minimizing environmental impact through energy efficiency, recyclability, and adherence to eco-friendly standards.
• Social justice – advocating fair working conditions, promoting inclusion, and upholding human rights.
• Economic efficiency – ensuring that purchases provide value for money and achieve long-term cost savings.

By implementing these principles, procurement serves not only to fulfil immediate requirements but also to:

• Strengthen national economies
• Reduce environmental burdens
• Foster innovation in sustainable products and services

In Austria, these aims are realized through the naBe action plan, which establishes standards and provides guidance for embedding sustainability within public procurement at the national level.

Chapter II: EU Public Procurement Law and Sustainability

The legal framework for public procurement in the European Union is primarily defined by the “Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EC”.
This directive establishes the following core principles:

• Transparency
• Equal treatment
• Fair competition

This directive explicitly promotes the integration of sustainability into procurement procedures. Contracting authorities are authorized to incorporate environmental and social criteria within technical specifications, award criteria, and contract performance clauses.
Furthermore, the use of recognized labels (such as the EU Ecolabel and Blue Angel) and life-cycle costing (LCC) is encouraged, ensuring that sustainability considerations are embedded throughout the procurement process. The European Court of Justice (CJEU) has confirmed that these criteria are permissible, provided they are relevant to the subject matter of the contract and do not discriminate against potential bidders. This legal framework offers a solid basis for advancing sustainable procurement across the European Union.

Chapter III: Governance of the naBe action plan

Austria’s naBe action plan serves as the national strategy for integrating sustainability within public procurement. The core objectives of the plan are to embed sustainable procurement practices across all federal institutions and to harmonize criteria throughout different sectors. The naBe platform operates as the central hub for information, training, and support providing essential resources, including fact sheets, checklists, and calculation tools.

Chapter IV: Practical Implementation – Criteria, Networks, and Good Practice

The practical implementation of the naBe action plan is organized around 16 product groups, each with ecological and social minimum standards. These groups encompass IT equipment, vehicles, food, textiles, furniture, and more. The criteria cover aspects such as energy efficiency, durability, recyclability, eco-labels, and social standards. Implementation is supported by a range of tools, including comprehensive fact sheets, checklists, and calculation aids, such as tools for calculating the total cost of ownership for IT equipment.
The naBe platform facilitates knowledge transfer through workshops, webinars, networking events, and sharing good practice examples.

It demonstrates the practical benefits and feasibility of sustainable procurement. Strategic partnerships and active networks further enhance the impact and reach of the naBe action plan. Effective communication is essential, and the naBe platform has introduced several measures to convey its message.

Chapter V: Monitoring in Austria

Monitoring and evaluation are part of the naBe action plan.
A multi-layered monitoring system is supposed to track compliance and effectiveness at different stages:

• institutionalization
• pre-award (tender monitoring)
• post-award (contract and purchasing monitoring)
• impact assessment

In a general sense data warehousing and digitalization are essential for ensuring transparency and enabling comprehensive analysis. The monitoring system should be scalable and adaptable. Challenges include ensuring

• data consistency
• integrating external data sources
• developing robust indicators for measuring sustainability outcomes

International trends highlight the growing importance of measurable results, integration of sustainability into financial management, and benchmarking against best practices from other countries.

Key take aways:

• Sustainable procurement is achievable. Whether you are just starting out or already have an established system – sustainable public procurement can be put into practice.
• Every journey starts with a first step. Regardless of your organization’s current level of development, there is always an opportunity to progress. Meaningful advancement begins with a clear step in the right direction.
• Utilize available resources. Digital tools and guidelines can streamline processes and help effectively incorporate sustainability criteria into procurement activities.
• Collaborate and share knowledge. Exchanging experiences and good practices among organizations and countries is a key factor in driving progress in sustainable procurement.

Expert Session

The sustainability session concluded with an insightful expert talk by Marieke Weerdesteijn. She introduced the Circular and Fair ICT Pact (CFIT), an initiative that promotes sustainable and fair ICT procurement through international cooperation. Public procurement is a highly effective lever for advancing climate action and circular ambitions.
It was highlighted that the majority of the environmental impact associated with IT equipment occurs during the production phase, making circularity, fairness, and energy efficiency particularly important. Key success factors for sustainable procurement include early engagement in the procurement process, adopting a life cycle perspective, utilizing certifications, and actively exchanging knowledge with peers.