Procuring Innovation in Government

This guide takes you through the options for procuring innovation within public-sector organisations.

The guide to procuring innovation in government has been developed to support civil servants, procurement professionals and designers in commissioning innovative projects — such as those using a design-led approach. The guide provides insight into suitable procurement procedures and practical tools for organising collaborations effectively.

What will you find in the guide?

• An overview of suitable procurement methods within the public sector

• A step-by-step guide and tips from procurement experts

• Inspiration for addressing complex challenges together with designers

Who is this guide for?

For civil servants, this guide helps you get started with innovation processes and design-led approaches. Their needs and objectives are central to setting up collaborations. They also work directly with procurement professionals, designers and other stakeholders. This guide provides practical guidance to help them procure effectively.

For designers, the guide provides insight into how a design-led approach can be procured within the public sector. Designers can share the guide with public-sector commissioners to help them understand how a collaboration can be funded.

For procurement professionals, the guide provides information about innovation and design, as well as inspiration for how these can be procured. It also offers tips and advice on setting up a procurement process that best fits an innovative, design-led approach.

This guide was written to support the procurement of an innovative, design-led approach to societal challenges. Design expertise can also be applied to other challenges and projects, such as urban planning, interior design and (landscape) architecture. For more information about these areas of design expertise, please visit BNI, BNSP, NVTL, BNO, BNA, and other organisations affiliated with the Federatie Creatieve Industrie.

Which procurement procedure fits your needs?

The need to use a design-led approach for complex challenges is growing within the public sector. Standard procurement procedures often result in a stripped-back or adapted design process that does not do justice to the potential of a design-led approach when addressing complex challenges. So how can you procure this approach while making full use of its potential?

The good news is that there are many ways to do this. The challenge is finding the procurement process that best fits your specific needs and the challenge you are facing. This practical guide helps you find the right route.

Developed by Ink Social Design

This guide is the result of research by design studio Ink Social Design, commissioned by PONT. The guide was developed with valuable input from procurement professionals, other civil servants and designers.