RaDAR PPI: D4.1 Value-Based Cross-Border Collaborative PublicProcurement of Innovation Handbook

The RaDAR-PPI project (Rapid Detection and Control System for Antimicrobial Resistance - Public Procurement of Innovation) is a 54-month initiative co-funded by the European Union’s COSME programme. Its aim is to address Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), a global health challenge associated with high healthcare costs and mortality. Through a value-based, cross border collaborative procurement model, five buyer organizations from Spain, France, and Italy jointly identified, procured and implemented innovative solutions for rapid detection and infection control. 

This Handbook brings together the main lessons learned from the RaDAR-PPI experience. It is designed as a practical guide for public procurers, economic operators, and policy makers who wish to replicate or adapt this model in other European contexts.  

The procurement process in RaDAR-PPI followed the value-based permeability methodology, based on the theory of change, which treats innovation adoption as a system-wide transformation rather than a standalone purchase. To ensure that the contracts are permeable to value and this is maintained throughout the contract lifecycle, the project embedded clinical and organizational outcomes directly into technical requirements and payment mechanisms. 
The Handbook summarizes insights from key stakeholders across the different phases of the project:  

• Preparation Phase: Buyers emphasized the importance of clearly defining the needs to ensure an effective dialogue with the market, as well as the necessity of early engagement with multidisciplinary clinical and IT teams. Economic operators considered the Open Market Consultations (OMC) highly useful to understand buyer expectations, yet expressed concerns regarding a gap between the high innovative ambitions of the project and the current Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of available solutions. Policy makers and payers viewed this phase as essential for sharing risks and sending a clear and coordinated demand signal to the market.

• Procurement Phase: Buyers identified administrative and legal complexities as a key factor during procurement slowing down the process. Economic operators reported barriers such as short submission periods and a lack of clarity in some awarding criteria. From a regulatory perspective, the need for more flexible procurement frameworks that support value-based negotiation rather than focusing just on the lowest price was emphasized.

• Implementation Phase: Buyers faced significant challenges related to IT integration, which often required more time than initially planned. Economic operators emphasized that for rapid detection technology to be effective, clear clinical pathways, including clear decisions on who to screen and when, must be defined and agreed upon by all stakeholders from the start. Policy makers pointed out that wider adoption of these solutions will depend on strong evidence of clinical impact, economic benefits, and smooth integration into existing healthcare workflows.

https://radar-ppi.com/