When sourcing an item of strategic importance and high value in the public sector, is it important to advertise this publicly?

Public sector procurement is governed by principles of transparency, non-discrimination, equal treatment, and open competition to ensure value for money for the taxpayer. For high-value and strategically important contracts (typically those above a certain financial threshold), regulations mandate that the opportunity must be publicly advertised. This "call for competition" ensures that all interested and capable suppliers have a fair chance to bid, preventing favouritism and promoting a competitive market. This process is fundamental to public accountability and achieving the best possible commercial outcome.

A. no- buyers can approach known contractors: This describes a non-competitive or single-source approach, which is only permissible in very specific, legally defined circumstances and not the default for strategic items.
B. no- buyers in the public sector do not source strategic items: This is incorrect. Public sector bodies procure highly strategic items, such as major infrastructure, defence systems, and critical IT services.
D. yes- the public sector should advertise through the Freedom of Information Act: The Freedom of Information Act is legislation for accessing existing public information; it is not a platform for advertising procurement opportunities.

The Cabinet Office. (2015). The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 - Guidance on the new regime. London: Crown Commercial Service. Part 2, Section 25-32 outlines the rules on publication of notices and calls for competition.

Arrowsmith, S. (2014). The Law of Public and Utilities Procurement: Regulation in the EU and UK. 3rd ed. Sweet & Maxwell. Chapter 7 discusses advertising requirements and calls for competition as a cornerstone of the EU/UK procurement regime.

Telgen, J., & de Boer, L. (2004). 'Public Procurement: A Survey of the Year's Research'. In The International Handbook of Public Procurement. CRC Press. pp. 3-18. This work discusses the legal and economic rationale for competitive tendering in the public sector.