Legal Definitions - procurement

Procurement has two distinct meanings in a legal context:

• First, and most commonly, procurement refers to the systematic process of acquiring goods, services, or works from an external source. This often involves identifying needs, selecting suppliers, negotiating terms, and managing the delivery and implementation of what is obtained.

  • Example 1 (Government): A state Department of Transportation needs to replace several aging bridges. They initiate a procurement process by issuing a request for proposals to construction companies, evaluating bids based on cost and expertise, and ultimately awarding a contract to the chosen firm to build the new bridges.

    Explanation: This illustrates procurement as the structured method the government uses to obtain the necessary construction services and materials for a public project.

  • Example 2 (Corporate): A large technology company requires thousands of specialized microchips for its new line of smartphones. Its supply chain division engages in procurement by negotiating long-term contracts with chip manufacturers, managing inventory, and ensuring a consistent supply to meet production demands.

    Explanation: Here, procurement refers to the company's ongoing activities to acquire the essential components needed for its manufacturing operations.

• Second, in a more specific and often criminal legal context, procurement refers to the act of inducing, persuading, or obtaining another individual to engage in sexual activity, often for the purpose of exploitation or commercial gain.

  • Example 3 (Criminal Law): An individual approaches a vulnerable person experiencing homelessness, offers them a place to stay and money, but then pressures them into engaging in commercial sex acts with clients the individual has arranged, taking a significant portion of the earnings.

    Explanation: This demonstrates procurement in its criminal sense, where one person induces or coerces another into illicit sexual activity for the procurer's benefit or profit.