Strategic Supplier Management (SSM) improves government-wide cooperation with key suppliers. By adopting a unified approach across the government, central authorities strengthen their relationships with these partners. SSM enables better risk management, fosters knowledge sharing, and encourages innovation. In doing so, the government ensures that technological solutions are used responsibly, both now and in the future.
SSM for Central Government (in Dutch: SLM Rijk) is not an end in itself. It enables the government to utilise technology effectively, safely, and responsibly.
What does the SSM for Central Government do?
SSM for Central Government:
- Consolidates the central government’s negotiating power.
- Establishes government-wide terms and agreements.
- Maintains a strategic and executive relationship with suppliers.
- Mediates in complex or cross-organisational issues.
- Works with a customer council that represents the ministries as clients.
Focus within the central government
SSM for Central Government is organised around the following supplier groups:
- Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft
- IBM en RedHat
- KPN
- Oracle
- SAP
This page offers a general overview of SSM for the central government. On the following pages, you will find more details about the different SSM groups, references to relevant documentation, and contact information.
SSM in the Public Procurement System
SSM is part of the Public Procurement System. This system guarantees an efficient, professional, and coordinated procurement of products and services vital to government operations, from ICT to facilities services.
Why procure at a central government level?
The central government performs a wide range of public tasks, such as security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social security. To carry out these tasks, it procures a variety of products and services. By consolidating procurement:
- Greater negotiating power is created.
- Terms and conditions improve.
- Opportunities arise for innovation and sustainability.
- Costs and risks are better managed.
The procurement system also considers government policies, such as ‘Procurement with Impact’, as well as international sustainability objectives.
Development of the Public Procurement System
Since 2010, the government’s procurement activities have been integrated into the Public Procurement System. This has included:
- Reducing around 350 procurement locations to 20 procurement centres.
- Establishing central government-wide procurement categories.
- Enhancing cooperation between ministries through a network structure.
The system rests on three closely connected pillars.
- The Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for central government and the departmental Coordinating Procurement Directors (CDIs).
- 20 procurement centres.
- Category management and Strategic Supplier Management (SSM).
These 3 pillars function as a unified collaborative network. And as government-wide cooperation can not be mandated through hierarchy, an interdepartmental network structure has been established adopted.
Tangible results of the Procurement System
The Public Procurement System delivers tangible results such as joint innovations, sustainability improvements, procurement savings, process enhancements, and risk mitigation. In this way, the system helps achieve policy goals and supports the core operations of the ministries.
For more information on Category Management (in Dutch) please visit:
- Organisation of Public Procurement: Organisatie van de Rijksinkoop (Zakendoen met het Rijk)(Dutch)
- Procurement categories and Category Planning: Inkoopcategorieën en categorieplannen (Zakendoen met het Rijk)(Dutch)
