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Best practice procurement

Procurement best practice follows 3 stages: plan, source and manage.

On this page

We’ve developed our model approach to procurement. This consists of 3 stages – Plan, Source, Manage – and 9 steps.
You need to carry out 9 steps to implement our approach, but you don’t have to spend the same time on each one.

Focus on outcomes

We encourage you to follow our best practice methodology. It focuses on outcomes instead of processes and aims to instil a procurement system that delivers value for money, aligns with business needs, improves service delivery and supports a competitive NSW economy.

The image shows the best practice procurement approach lifecycle starting with the planning phase and then moving through source to the management phase. — Our best practice model approach to procurement is based on Plan - Source - Manage

If you're new to procurement, we recommend our procurement foundations training.

In this training, you'll learn how to buy low-value, low-risk goods and services in line with the NSW Government's procurement system.

Procure in 3 stages and 9 steps

Our best practice methodology consists of 3 broad stages: Plan, Source and Manage. Each stage comprises 3 steps. The buyer guidance on this site is largely set out using this approach.

While every step is important, you don't have to spend the same time and resources on each one. Instead, you should make your own assessment based on the size of your procurement, your situation and needs.

When you use this approach and its supporting tools, you'll be following best practice. This, in turn, should give you the best chance of reaching a successful procurement outcome.

Plan stage

Find out how to plan your procurement and develop a procurement strategy.

Source stage

Discover what’s involved in the sourcing stage of our best practice procurement approach.

Manage stage

Read about implementing, managing and renewing an arrangement with a supplier.