Pre-Commercial Procurement as a Key Development Source of It Services in the Public Sector – The Case of Slovenia

Abstract

The level of understanding and experience with implementing pre-commercial procurement (PCP) varies among European Union (EU) countries. Although PCP contributes to effective R&D and innovative services, Slovenia is still unable to finish innovative projects successfully with the existing commercial procurement model. This article emphasizes the need to supplement the current Slovenian public procurement model for developing innovative services with particular reference to the European guidelines. Applying the case study approach to a Slovenian public organization, the article presents the contribution of using the PCP model in an R&D-oriented information service. Such an approach could also be very useful outside the public sector, for all organizations wishing to manage risk and ensure their innovation is realized at the lowest cost. As a result, this article identifies and presents the experiences and best practices of successful innovative projects based on the PCP model that improve cooperation between the public organization and the service provider. These findings contribute to scientific literature and act as a guide for Slovenian regulators.