The State Audit Office of Latvia has developed two self-assessment questionnaires to support public procurement practitioners to help them assess their procurement processes in depth, identify risks and potential improvements. By completing the questionnaires, one will be able to assess a procurement system of an institution and a sector, as well as the effectiveness of various aspects in a specific procurement.
The self-assessment questionnaires emphasise the effective use of resources and the strengthening of best practices that will contribute to the overall performance of an institution in the long term. Following the results of the questionnaires, an institution will be able to determine its procurement goals and performance indicators more precisely, as well as develop specific improvement measures.
“External control or an audit is not always necessary to identify shortcomings and improve processes. Often, a systematic and self-critical view of an institutional internal mechanisms is sufficient to assess and eliminate weaknesses in a timely manner. The purpose of the self-assessment questionnaires is to promote the ability of state institutions to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their own operations, thus providing an opportunity to improve processes and management purposefully,” indicated Mr Gatis Litvins, Council Member of the State Audit Office of Latvia.
The questionnaires were drafted by using the approach used in performance audit of the State Audit Office of Latvia “The effectiveness of the public procurement system in the Interior and the state public procurement policy affecting it”. The audit results are reflected in two reports published in December 2024: “Problems and opportunities for the development of public procurement” and “The effectiveness of public procurement system in the Interior”. The auditors have concluded that public procurement system and legal framework must be improved in Latvia so that the procurement process is simpler and faster and the work invested by procurement specialists is commensurate with the results obtained.
The State Audit Office of Latvia recommends that self-assessment questionnaires be completed regularly even if the previous score is high to monitor progress and set new development goals.
One should add that the State Audit Office of Latvia has also prepared self-assessment questionnaires as part of separate audits previously, which serve as a support tool for improving the work of state administration.
About the State Audit Office of Latvia
The State Audit Office of the Republic of Latvia is an independent, collegial supreme audit institution. The purpose of its activity is to find out whether the actions with the financial means and property of a public entity are legal, correct, useful and in line with public interests, as well as to provide recommendations for the elimination of discovered irregularities. The State Audit Office conducts audits in accordance with International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions INTOSAI (ISSAI), whose recognition in Latvia is determined by the Auditor General. Upon discovering deficiencies, the State Audit Office of Latvia provides recommendations for their elimination, but it informs law enforcement authorities about potential infringements of the law.
Additional information
Ms Gunta Krevica
Head of PR and Internal Communication Division
Ph. 23282332 | E-mail: Gunta.Krevica@lrvk.gov.lv