Needs assessment

ProcurEU definition

The needs assessment is the process of determining the needs, including possible impacts in terms of value for money or environmental impacts, regarding the subject matter of the procurement by various means, including:

• Liaising with internal and external stakeholders, within the organisation itself or third parties to identify their needs;
• Translating identified needs into procurement planning of supplies, services, or in line with the organisation’s budget plan;
• Considering aggregation of needs related to the same subject matter.

Interview emphasis / definitons

Need identification, include supplier; environmental goals that are persuited are clear.

Merged definitions

The needs assessment is the process of determining the needs regarding the subject matter of the procurement by various means, including engaging with internal and external stakeholders. Note that market engagement is relevant for all stages in the circular public procurement. One can also consider aggregation of needs related to the same subject matter, since that can also bring monetary and environmental benefits for circularity. From suppliers side this would especially lead to an understanding of which of the identified needs they could potentially satisfy.