European Public Procurement, Contract Management and Contract Performance

European public procurement does not end with contract award. Increasingly, the focus of EU policy and practice is shifting towards effective contract execution, performance management and the achievement of strategic policy objectives throughout the life cycle of public contracts.

This course provides an in-depth and practical analysis of the legal and managerial aspects of contract execution under Directive 2014/24/EU. Participants will examine the legal framework governing contract management, including the rights and obligations of contracting authorities and contractors, governance and accountability arrangements, documentation requirements, and practical approaches to monitoring contract performance.

Special attention will be paid to the modification of public contracts under Article 72 of Directive 2014/24/EU and the rich body of case law developed by the Court of Justice of the European Union, including the Pressetext judgment and subsequent developments. Participants will learn how to distinguish between substantial and non-substantial modifications, address price revision mechanisms, inflation clauses, contract extensions and the replacement of contractors.

Beyond the legal framework, the course explores practical contract management techniques, including supplier relationship management, contract management plans, key performance indicators (KPIs), risk management, audit trails and documentation. Interactive workshops based on real-life cases allow participants to apply the legal principles to practical situations and exchange experiences with experts and peers.

The course also discusses the growing role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in contract management, including AI-assisted monitoring, contract analytics and automated compliance checks, while considering the associated legal and governance challenges.

The programme combines legal analysis with practical implementation, making it particularly valuable for professionals responsible for ensuring that public contracts deliver value for money throughout their execution.

This course is part of the programme for obtaining EIPA’s European Certification for public procurement professionals. See more information here.

What you will learn

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the legal framework governing contract execution under Directive 2014/24/EU;
• Manage contract performance in accordance with EU procurement principles;
• Identify when contract modifications are legally permissible under Article 72;
• Distinguish between substantial and non-substantial contract modifications;
• Manage contract risks, supplier performance and documentation requirements;
• Apply practical approaches to contract management using real-life case studies;
• Understand how AI and digital tools can support contract monitoring and compliance.

Course methodology

The course combines expert presentations, practical case studies, workshops, group discussions and interactive exercises. Participants will analyse recent case law, solve practical contract management scenarios and exchange experiences with leading European experts.

Participants are encouraged to familiarise themselves with Directive 2014/24/EU, particularly the provisions relating to contract execution and Article 72 on contract modifications, before attending.

Following the course, participants will be better equipped to:

• Manage public contracts throughout their execution phase;
• Minimise legal risks arising during contract implementation;
• Make legally sound decisions regarding contract modifications;
• Establish effective contract management and monitoring systems;
• Improve supplier accountability.

Participants receive a certificate of attendance and will have access to the course materials and additional learning resources through Moodle for six months after the course. Those wishing to obtain EIPA certification may also sit the examination.

Please click here for the exam opportunity at the end of this course.

The course is intended for officials from national, sub-national and local authorities and other public bodies from the EU Member States, candidate countries and European bodies and organisations, involved in public procurement and contract execution. It should also be of interest to managing authorities working in the new programing period as well as private sector providers, professional advisers and academics working with public contracts.

The course is particularly relevant for professionals who already possess a basic understanding of public procurement and wish to strengthen their expertise in the increasingly important area of contract execution and performance management.

Project number: 2630807

Course venue
Grupotel Granvia 678
Gran Via de les Corst Catalanes, 678
08010 Barcelona (ES)

Project Management Officer
Ms Belinda Vetter
Tel: +31 43 3296382
b.vetter@eipa.eu

Fee
The fee includes documentation, refreshments, and lunches. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.

Discounts
EIPA member fee
EIPA offers a discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency.

Who are the supporting countries?
Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden.

For all other participants, the regular fee applies.

Early bird discount
EIPA offers 10% off on registrations made eight weeks or more before the start of a course. The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.

Loyalty coupon
As a token of appreciation we offer all our participants a loyalty coupon for one of our future courses. The offer can be shared with colleagues and relevant networks. The coupon will expire one year after its release. This discount is not cumulative with other discounts, except for the EIPA member fee.

Meals
Dietary preferences can be indicated on the registration form.

Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.

Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation.

Cancellation policy
For administrative reasons you will be charged €150 for cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.

EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 2 weeks before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, accommodation, etc.).

A few days before the start of the course you will receive the log-in details for accessing the course materials. You can log in here.