The Essential Guide to Public Procurement: Bridging Theory and Practice

Public procurement, the strategic process governments use to efficiently and ethically acquire goods and services, is a critical administrative function. And yet, few who practice or teach government contracting have received much formal training in the theories, tactics, and techniques of public procurement. The Essential Guide to Public Procurement is designed for all those who “fall into” procurement with little formal training: academic instructors teaching procurement courses without specialized backgrounds, students in Public Administration programs seeking to understand government contracting, researchers exploring this interdisciplinary field, and practitioners at all levels of government who manage over $10 trillion allocated annually in global procurement spending.

Each chapter combines academic research with practitioner insights, capturing key elements of the procurement process. Teaching cases developed in partnership with professional organizations like NIGP and NASPO make it an invaluable resource for both classroom instruction and professional development. Covering essential topics including strategic frameworks, regulations, procurement processes, and contract management, the book offers a thorough and up-to-date overview of the theoretical and practical perspectives that drive and govern procurement activities. In each chapter, authors examine the context and objectives of public procurement, the rules and institutions that shape government contracts, and the phases of the procurement process, equipping readers with the necessary knowledge to design and manage high-performing contracts. The book further identifies strategies to align procurement with broader public policy goals, including social impact and sustainability, and provides in-class activities to facilitate student learning. By bridging theory and real-world cases, The Essential Guide to Public Procurement equips practitioners, educators, and policymakers with the tools to navigate the complexities of government contracting and partnership management.

Ana- Maria Dimand is Assistant Professor in the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy, Florida State University, and Global Research Affiliate with the Sustainable Purchasing Research Initiative at American University, USA. Her extensive professional experience includes serving as Head of the Public Procurement Office and a legal advisor for the National Trade Registry in Bucharest, Romania. Dr. Dimand’s research spans public management, government contracting, innovation, sustainability, and collaborative governance.

Benjamin M. Brunjes is Associate Professor in the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington, USA. He studies how to design and implement complex forms of modern governance, including contracts, grants, and collaborative networks. Dr. Brunjes has served as Policy Fellow with the US Small Business Administration. His research has been published in Public Administration Review, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, and Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, among others.

Andrea S. Patrucco is an Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management in the Department of Marketing and Logistics at the Florida International University College of Business, and currently Editor in Chief of the Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management. His research interests are in the field of management of buyer- supplier relationships in both the private and public sectors. He is one of the academic leaders of the International Research Study on Public Procurement Research group, and he actively collaborates with government organizations in the United States, such as the National Association of State Procurement Officers and the National Institute of Government Purchasing. His research has been published in several academic journals such as the Journal of Supply Chain Management, Journal of Business Logistics, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, International Journal of Production Economics, Public Administration Review and the Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management.