1.9 It is a primary responsibility of accounting officers to ensure that VfM is achieved in all procurements3. Chapter 22 of Government Accounting sets out the general principles which apply to the public sector's acquisition of goods and services, including works, and states that the Government's policy on procurement is to achieve VfM, having regard to propriety and regularity. Departments are responsible for achieving VfM, normally through competition, and ensuring that they comply with appropriate obligations under European and other international agreements. Departments are also responsible for ensuring that the Government's procurement policy guidelines4 and the guidance on procurement which is issued by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) are brought to the attention of other public bodies for which they are responsible, including Local Authorities where these are the procuring body.
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3 Procurement is variously defined, NAO defines procurement as being: "the whole-life process of the acquisition of goods, services and works from third parties, beginning when a potential requirement is identified and ending with the conclusion of a service contract or ultimate disposal of an asset".
4 Annex 22.2 to Government Accounting