Writing and talks
Opinion pieces, podcasts and lectures on what actually happens in ICT public procurement, from both sides of the table. Some of it has appeared elsewhere; some I write here.
Most of the published pieces below are in Estonian.
Lecture: writing the brief for a software development tender
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Opinion pieces and podcasts
IT-spetsialistid: noored ei pääse e-riiki ehitama (opens in a new window)
Qualification requirements that demand too many years of experience keep junior people out of building the e-state. Written with Lauri Lindman, on what that costs authorities and the market over time.
With Lauri Lindman · ITL public procurement working groupKuula oma kasutajaid ehk PTA kliendiportaali teenuste analüüsi õppetunnid (opens in a new window)
Nearly 30 user interviews on a public agency's client portal: why a service provider needs to actually know its users, and what the project left the agency's team with once it wrapped up. I hosted the episode with PTA advisor Jürgen Kask and Trinidad Wiseman team lead Inkeri Parman.
Guests: Jürgen Kask (PTA) and Inkeri Parman (Trinidad Wiseman)Riiklik diskrimineerimine? IT-hangetel nõutakse vanemapuhkuse läbi teinud spetsialistilt võimatut (opens in a new window)
Dozens of Estonian authorities require IT tender teams to show reference projects from the last three years: a condition that shuts out specialists returning from parental leave and raises costs for the taxpayer. I was one of the people interviewed.
By Märt Belkin · Eesti Ekspress#14 Marko Nemberg ja tarkvaraarenduse parimate praktikate juhis (opens in a new window)
An hour on the best practice guide the ITL working group wrote for contracting authorities: market consultation, requirements for the team, evaluation criteria, a common CV format, and price indexation.
Host: Kadri Matteus · also on Spotify and SoundCloudKuidas hoiduda zombilepingutest riigihangetes? (opens in a new window)
Framework agreements without price indexation eventually turn into contracts that are still valid but that nobody bids under any more. Written with Erki Fels, on why indexation costs an authority less than avoiding it.
With Erki Fels · PwC LegalElon Musk ei pea andma luba Eesti riigihangetes osaleda (opens in a new window)
Why demand a manufacturer's written authorization when a bidder can already deliver the required solution? Written with Erki Fels, on qualification requirements that pile extra work on authorities and bidders without adding any value to the tender.
With Erki Fels · PwC LegalShorter pieces
Using AI in public procurement the correct way
Tender monitoring, go/no-go decisions and compliance checking are already worth handing to AI. The one thing it can't be trusted with yet is being confidently wrong.
A technical specification that doesn't shut out competition
Most competition-restricting specifications aren't written in bad faith. They're written in a hurry, on the back of an existing product's documentation. Here are three steps that prevent it.