National purchasing awards were dished out for the first time in The Hague on 19 March. The aim is to draw attention to exceptional purchasing performance at a national government level. The PPP Ministry of Finance Renovation project won first prize in ‘the contracting process we’re most proud of’ category. The panel of judges rewarded the project because ‘it nicely combines total cost of ownership and innovative purchasing’.

Other contracting projects competing in this category against the team from the Ministry of Finance and the Government Buildings Department (RGD) were ‘OT 2006’ of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the ‘campaign effects study’ of the Ministry of General Affairs. The main prize went to the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management for the ‘Zeeland motorway maintenance’ project.

The national purchasing awards – organized for the first time this year – were initiated by the Central Purchasing Office. More than 20 project teams registered. The entries were assessed by a professional panel of judges, chaired by NEVI Professor of Purchasing Management at the VU University Amsterdam, Jeroen Harink.

The PPP Ministry of Finance Renovation project is the first of its kind in national government accommodation. Strukton Integrale Projecten carried responsibility for managing the contracting process. It is now also responsible for managing Safire BV, the consortium charged with realising the project, coupled with managing and maintaining the building over the next 25-year period.

For more information in Dutch, visit www.rijksinkoopprijs.nl.