Local government servicing units as a central contracting authority

Abstract

The scope of tasks entrusted to the servicing units, the so-called shared services centres, as part of the joint service results from the resolution of the decision-making body of the local government unit or from an agreement concluded between units, with restrictions resulting from the local government laws. By means of a special provision of the public procurement law, the legislator granted the competence to indicate or appoint an entity performing central contracting tasks or to specify the method of appointing such entities to the decision-making body of the local government unit. The competences of the commune council also include determining the scope of activities of these entities in accordance with Art. 15c of the Public Procurement Law. The perspective of providing by the commune of the joint service of the commune’s organisational units may therefore include joint activities in the scope of the procurement procedures, but then it is necessary to apply both the provisions of the law on commune government and the public procurement law. The indication or appointment of a central contracting authority by the decision-making body of the local government unit must be the activity preceding the transfer of specific tasks in the field of public procurement to this entity.