Public procurement is the process by which government departments or agencies purchase goods and services from the private sector. It takes place at both a national and regional level, and the process will usually be subject to specific rules and policies covering how the relevant decisions are made.

Depending on local laws, the relevant government officials will have to follow a set system for procurement. This system could cover the way they advertise for suppliers, the grounds on which they choose a supplier, and the way in which they measure and enforce the requirements they put on the supplier. The usual aims of such a system will be to take advantage of competition between suppliers and to reduce the risk of corruption.