The Law and Economics of Framework Agreements: Designing Flexible Solutions for Public Procurement

Framework agreements have arisen in response to the well documented and high costs of public procurement procedures. The agreements have significant potential to improve procedural efficiency in public procurement, but are complex to operate. Inadequate preparation and implementation can also frustrate their potential both to tackle waste, abuse and corruption and to enhance value for money. In this enlightening book, Gian Luigi Albano and Caroline Nicholas look at the key decisions required for designing and using framework agreements, and address both legal and economic issues to give the reader a clear understanding of the planning, variables and flexibility needed for efficient implementation. This book will be of interest to policy makers, lawyers and public procurement practitioners who want to deepen their understanding of the legal and economic issues surrounding framework agreements.

Part I. Framework Agreements: Basic Definitions, Main Economic Forces and International Experience: 1. Introduction; 2. Basic taxonomy of framework agreements; 3. Some key economic dimensions in framework agreements; 4. The economic analysis of framework agreements; 5. International experience in framework agreements procedures; 6. International experience on framework agreements operated by centralised purchasing agencies; Part II. Fostering Competition and Preventing Collusion in Framework Agreements: 7. Promoting effective competition and enhancing outcomes in framework agreements; 8. Integrity concerns in framework agreements; 9. Addressing risks of collusion; Part III. The Design of Framework Agreements: 10. The design of framework agreements; 11. Framework agreements for centralised procurement; 12. Policy and regulatory issues.