How does the city conduct procurements?

Lead-in paragraph

The City of Helsinki’s procurement is governed by legislation and the city’s administrative regulations, procurement guidelines and strategic objectives. The city’s procurement guidelines steer how the city, through its procurement activities, provides high-quality and cost-effective services, while promoting a sustainable economy and social responsibility. These guidelines apply to the procurement of goods, services and supplies, as well as investments and concession contracts.

Helsinki’s procurement objectives

The procurement guidelines set out 13 objectives that are divided into three themes:

Promoting efficiency and a well-functioning market
Responsibility and preparedness
Procurement management and expertise

City of Helsinki Procurement Strategy (PDF, in Finnish)

Helsinki strives to deliver measurable benefits for city residents, employees, businesses and other stakeholders through its procurement activities. When preparing procurements, we make it a point to define the intended outcomes, assess the key risks and consult the users of the service.

The city promotes a well-functioning market by providing information on upcoming procurements, engaging in dialogue with businesses and, where necessary, dividing procurements into smaller entities. The city is also strengthening its collaboration with suppliers and is actively leveraging new solutions to achieve better outcomes.

The city’s procurement promotes environmental and social responsibility and economic sustainability. The city aims to reduce the environmental impact of its procurement, assess labour and human rights risks in its supply chains and require its contracted suppliers to comply with its ethical principles.

Our procurement always seeks to select the most cost-effective solution, considering the costs accrued over the entire life cycle. For critically-important procurements, we aim to ensure service

continuity and prepare for potential disturbances. When procuring information systems and digital services, the city also assesses risks relating to data management, system compatibility and dependency on a single supplier.

See the following programmes:

Climate work in Helsinki(Link leads to external service)

Sustainable Helsinki: Responsible procurement and circular economy(Link leads to external service)

Procurement is managed in a strategic and consistent manner. Strategically-significant procurements are identified, procurement processes are streamlined and staff procurement skills are continuously developed.

Service agreements are managed in a systematic manner throughout the entire contract period. Procurement data, financial information, market analyses and artificial intelligence are utilised in the preparation and management of procurement, as well as for anticipating risks

Other policies affecting procurement

City of Helsinki’s Accessibility Model

Criteria for clean vehicles (in Finnish)

Data protection

Code of Ethics for City of Helsinki's Contractual Suppliers

The City of Helsinki has a Code of Ethics for Contractual Suppliers that defines the minimum level of responsibility in the City's procurements. The Code of Ethics supports the implementation of responsible, effective and climate-smart procurements. It requires contractual suppliers to ensure compliance, comply with legislation, engage in honest and effective cooperation, promote well-functioning markets, and respect and promote environmental protection and human rights.

Code of Ethics for City of Helsinki's Contractual Suppliers (PDF)(Link leads to external service)

Decision (in Finnish)