Procurement Annual Award 2026

On 20 May 2026, at the old mill of Mazjumprava Manor, marking the most significant events in the procurement industry and honouring its outstanding representatives, the Procurement Annual Awards will be presented, reviving a tradition interrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Procurement Annual Award 2026 laureates

Public sector buyer of the year - VSIA "Latvijas Valsts ceļi"

The award to VSIA "Latvijas Valsts ceļi" was granted for efficient and strategic management of state road network procurements. In 2025, more than 180 procurement contracts were concluded for a total amount of EUR 186.79 million, significantly increasing volume compared to 2024. Procurements ensured high competition — an average of 3.5 bidders per procurement and only 14.8% of cases with a single offer received, as well as cooperation with more than 98 suppliers. The company's procurement system stands out for implementing sustainability principles — 32.5% of procurements included environmental and climate criteria, accounting for more than half of contract value. The organisation also ensures a low procurement termination rate (6.8% vs 18.8% nationally) and develops a centralised, data-driven and transparent approach enabling effective planning and implementation of infrastructure projects. The company has also made a significant contribution to PPP project development in Latvia and serves as an industry standard-setter in road construction procurements.

Private sector buyer of the year - SIA "Tele2"

SIA "Tele2" is one of the leading electronic communications companies in Latvia, standing out in the private sector with a modern, transparent and efficient procurement approach. The company's operations are based on simplified processes, data-driven decisions and a consistent focus on cost efficiency, ensuring economically justified and competitive procurement results. Tele2 has used procurement platforms for procurement management for 16 years; since September 2025 all company procurements are published on the iepirkumi.lv platform, ensuring suppliers free, equal and transparent access to information. With its approach, the company demonstrates a good practice example for private sector procurement organisation in Latvia.

Supplier of the year - SIA "Belss"

The award to SIA "Belss" was granted for a significant contribution to public procurement contract performance and long-term professional work in telecommunications and defence. In 2025, the company concluded 22 public procurement contracts for a total amount of EUR 10.39 million, while its turnover in 2024 reached EUR 18.39 million. As the largest defence communications integrator in Latvia, SIA "Belss" provides technologically complex solutions essential to Latvia's state security, while offering a broad range of telecommunications, satellite communications, design and construction services in both defence and civil sectors, successfully combining private and public sector experience.

Municipality of the year - Liepājas valstspilsētas pašvaldība

The award to Liepājas valstspilsētas pašvaldība was granted for purposeful and efficient public procurement management. In 2025, the municipality centrally organised 99.8% of all procurements, although regulations do not require this, thus becoming a leader in centralised procurements in Latvia. This approach ensured high competition — an average of 3.8 bidders per procurement, as well as cooperation with 110 suppliers, of whom 99.7% are Latvian companies. At the same time, the municipality actively implements sustainability principles, integrating environmental and climate criteria in 20.3% of procurements, accounting for 51% of concluded contract value. Liepāja's experience shows that systematic and voluntarily implemented centralisation can serve as a model for effective public fund management.

Competition promoter of the year - SIA "Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks"

In 2025, the Engineering Communications Cartel was uncovered, where the Competition Council initially received information about possible prohibited agreements between bidders in procurements from SIA "Rīgas namu pārvaldnieks". The information provided and cooperation significantly contributed to uncovering the cartel and holding violators accountable, thereby strengthening adherence to fair competition principles in public procurements. Such action demonstrates a high level of responsibility and serves as an example for other public buyers.

Challenge of the year - SIA "Rīgas Austrumu klīniskā universitātes slimnīca"

The award was granted to the Rīgas Austrumu klīniskā universitātes slimnīca procurement team for successful implementation of the New Treatment Building construction procurement — one of the most complex healthcare infrastructure procurements in Latvia in recent years. On the way to contract conclusion, the procurement went through three different procurement types, nine complaints were reviewed at the Procurement Monitoring Bureau, and the project scope was optimised several times to find a financially viable solution. Thanks to the team's persistence and professionalism, a contract was concluded on 7 July 2025, and the procurement also received recognition as "Sustainable construction and infrastructure procurement of the year".

Procurement educator of the year - Līga Jaunozola, lawyer at the Legal Acts Application Department of the Procurement Monitoring Bureau

The award to Līga Jaunozola was presented for active work in educating procurement specialists and strengthening professional competence. In 2025 she led Procurement Monitoring Bureau e-learning webinars on procurement procedure selection, procurement commission work and conflict of interest prevention, and also worked as a lecturer at Procurement Academy practical training. In addition, she contributed to developing various methodological materials and explanations. She also provides daily telephone consultations, helping buyers correctly apply public procurement regulation. In 2025 she actively represented Latvia in international experience exchange initiatives in socially responsible and strategic procurement.

Procurement specialist of the year - Lita Kalniņa, Deputy Head of the Legal Department of Smiltene Municipality for procurement matters.

The award to Lita Kalniņa was presented for long-term and professional contribution to Smiltene Municipality procurement management and development. Under her leadership, procurement planning, centralisation and organisation processes were improved, ensuring transparent and efficient use of financial resources. Lita successfully implemented several complex procurements and also practically introduced Green Public Procurement principles, achieving one of the highest indicators among municipalities — more than 30%. Lita's contribution to industry development is also significant — she created a procurement specialists discussion group with more than 180 participants to promote experience exchange.

Contribution of the year - Sandija Liepiņa, Deputy Head of the Public Procurement Regulation and Practice Improvement Working Group

The award was granted to Sandija Liepiņa for a significant contribution to public procurement industry development and regulation improvement in Latvia. As deputy head of the public procurement regulation and practice improvement working group, she actively coordinated and advanced proposals for procurement system improvement. The set of proposals for bureaucracy reduction developed by Sandija was agreed in the Cabinet of Ministers and submitted for consideration to the Saeima Budget and Finance (Tax) Committee, promoting development of a more efficient, transparent and modern public procurement system.

Procurement Annual Award in medicine - SIA "Bērnu klīniskā universitātes slimnīca"

The award to SIA "Bērnu klīniskā universitātes slimnīca" was granted for using procurement as an instrument to introduce innovative and life-saving medical solutions in children's healthcare. In 2025, the hospital implemented several complex and high value-added procurements that enabled both saving patients' lives and introducing new treatment and diagnostic options in Latvia. Thanks to procurement for purchase of a rechargeable neurostimulator, life-saving therapy was provided to a patient whose implanted system's operating time was less than three months. Radiofrequency ablation generator rental enabled introduction in Latvia of a new diagnostic method — stereotactic electroencephalography (SEEG) for children, opening opportunities to treat drug-resistant epilepsy more effectively. Also, by providing vagus nerve stimulation therapy implants, the hospital continued developing modern treatment options for children with severe epilepsy forms. These procurements demonstrate the hospital's ability to combine medical innovation, patient needs and professional procurement management, creating direct and long-term benefit for children's health in Latvia.

Procurement Annual Award 2026 laureates. Photo: Lauris Vīksne

Procurement Annual Award laureates were reviewed in three evaluation rounds by a jury comprising representatives from ten organisations: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Health, Procurement Monitoring Bureau, Central Finance and Contracting Agency, Competition Council, Latvian Association of Local Governments, Latvian Procurement Practitioners Association, "Procurement Academy" and the "Iepirkumi.lv" portal.

The goal of the Procurement Annual Award: to promote good practice in procurement, inspire those working in the procurement industry by showing that quality work is noticed and valued, raise the prestige of the procurement industry in the eyes of society and decision-makers, and strengthen trust and pride among industry professionals in their work.

Thanks to all nominees for their contribution to developing and strengthening the procurement industry. Thanks to all involved organisations and partners for supporting the revival of the Procurement Annual Award.

Photo report from the Procurement Annual Award 2026 ceremony.