How does the City of Helsinki procure products and services?

Lead-in paragraph

The City of Helsinki’s procurement processes comply with legislation on public procurement as well as the Finnish Local Government Act, Administrative Procedure Act, Act on the Contractor’s Obligations and Liability when Work is Contracted Out and Act on the Openness of Government Activities. The City of Helsinki’s Procurement Strategy outlines the strategic goals set for procurement by the City of Helsinki. Additionally, there are separate instructions concerning the factors that must be taken into account in procurement.

The City of Helsinki’s procurement goals

The City of Helsinki Procurement Strategy is divided into three themes. Each of these themes includes the procurement goals and measures through which the City of Helsinki can support the implementation of its City Strategy and develop the quality of its services further to meet the needs of residents and companies. The main criteria of the themes sum up what Helsinki wants to achieve with its purchasing.

City of Helsinki Procurement Strategy (PDF, in Finnish)

The theme of functional markets and promoting innovation includes the goals and measures through which the City of Helsinki makes cost-efficient purchases supporting the vitality of markets and a favourable environment for innovation. The City of Helsinki has a major impact on the market and is able to create new markets and business activities with its demand and activities.

The goals and measures related to the impact and responsibility theme help the City of Helsinki accomplish the goals set in its City Strategy for creating a more financially, environmentally and socially sustainable city. The City of Helsinki is at the forefront in many areas covered by this theme, and its future success depends on its ability to improve this position further. Responsible procurement lays the foundation for a responsible capital city.

See the following programmes:

Carbon-Neutral Helsinki 2035 Action Plan

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

The theme of procurement management and procurement skills brings together the goals and measures through which the City of Helsinki coordinates its organisation towards more uniform and professional procurement. In order for procurement to support the City of Helsinki’s core functions, the city must manage it strategically and continuously develop its procurement expertise.

Other policies affecting procurement

City of Helsinki’s Accessibility Model

Criteria for clean vehicles (in Finnish)

Data protection

Focus areas of the City of Helsinki Procurement Strategy

Procurement Director Jorma Lamminmäki from the City of Helsinki talks about the focus areas of the City of Helsinki Procurement Strategy in Finnish. Click the TXT box in the top right corner to access English subtitles.