hätähankintoihin

Hätähankinnat, a Finnish term, refers to procurement processes undertaken in urgent situations where normal tendering procedures cannot be followed due to the critical nature of the need. These situations are typically characterized by unforeseen events that require immediate action, such as natural disasters, sudden equipment failures, or public health emergencies. The primary objective of hätähankinnat is to secure necessary goods or services as quickly as possible to mitigate immediate risks or to restore essential functions.

The legal framework governing public procurement in Finland allows for exceptions to standard competitive bidding in cases of extreme urgency. This allows public entities to bypass lengthy consultation and tendering periods. However, the use of hätähankinnat is not a free pass for bypassing procurement rules. The urgency must be genuine and demonstrable, and the chosen supplier should ideally be selected based on objective criteria to ensure value for money as much as the circumstances permit. Transparency, even in accelerated processes, remains a key principle. Records of the decision-making process, the justification for urgency, and the selected supplier are generally maintained.

The scope of hätähankinnat can vary widely, from acquiring emergency supplies for a flood response to procuring specialized equipment to address an unexpected infrastructure breakdown. While efficiency is paramount, there is an ongoing discussion about balancing the need for speed with the principles of fair competition and public accountability. The concept is designed to be a tool for exceptional circumstances, not a routine procurement method.