Joint procurement occurs when two or more contracting authorities collaborate to run a single procurement process together, issuing one combined tender that covers all their collective needs. Rather than managing separate tenders independently, these authorities consolidate their requirements and conduct one unified procurement activity. Typically, a single notice is published on behalf of all participating entities, and the resulting contract awards apply across the group of buyers.
EU procurement directives explicitly permit joint procurement, including cross-border collaboration between Member States, under specific articles (such as Article 39 of Directive 2014/24/EU). This form of procurement facilitates pooled purchasing and coordinated procurement efforts in sectors like healthcare, infrastructure, or emergency supplies. It allows diverse authorities to leverage collective strength while remaining compliant with EU rules on fairness, transparency, and equal treatment.
Practically speaking, joint procurement helps authorities achieve economies of scale, lower administrative costs, and better terms through aggregated demand. It is especially valuable where resources are constrained or when shared needs—such as medical supplies across hospitals—make individual procurements inefficient. Careful planning and clear governance are critical to ensure effective collaboration, manage responsibilities, and preserve competitive integrity.
