Hätähankinnat

Hätähankinnat, a Finnish term, translates to "emergency procurements" or "urgent acquisitions." It refers to the process of acquiring goods, services, or works when there is an immediate and unforeseen need that cannot be met through standard procurement procedures. These situations typically arise due to unexpected events, emergencies, or critical operational failures where delays would cause significant harm or disruption.

The justification for hätähankinnat usually stems from a demonstrable urgency. Common scenarios include natural disasters requiring immediate supplies, critical infrastructure breakdowns needing rapid repair, or urgent security threats demanding swift acquisition of necessary equipment. Unlike regular procurements that often involve competitive bidding and extended timelines, hätähankinnat aim for speed and efficiency.

However, this expedited process comes with inherent risks. The lack of competitive tendering can lead to higher prices, potentially lower quality, and a reduced transparency in the acquisition. Therefore, most legal frameworks governing public procurement have specific regulations and strict conditions for utilizing hätähankinnat to prevent misuse. These regulations typically require thorough documentation of the emergency, justification for bypassing standard procedures, and often involve post-acquisition review or reporting to ensure accountability. The principle is to use this exceptional procedure only when absolutely necessary and in a manner that minimizes potential drawbacks.