What is the main purpose of public procurement?

Public procurement primarily serves the purpose of acquiring work, goods, and services needed by public bodies. This encompasses a range of activities necessary for the functioning of government entities, such as obtaining supplies for public services, investing in infrastructure, and ensuring that public sector projects are adequately funded and executed. By using a structured procurement process, public bodies aim to achieve value for money, promote accountability and transparency, and enhance competition among suppliers. This function is critical in ensuring that public resources are used efficiently and effectively to meet the needs of the community.

The other options, while mentioning related activities, do not encapsulate the primary purpose of public procurement. For instance, while facilitating international bidding processes can be a part of procurement, it is not the main focus. Moreover, the enforcement of laws and the provision of funds for private companies, while relevant to the broader context of public administration and private-public partnerships, do not specifically define the primary objective of public procurement itself.