State audit calls for stronger public procurement capacity in Lithuania’s defence system

A state audit has found that Lithuania’s defence system lacks sufficient public procurement specialists and competencies, despite conducting procurement worth €10.8 billion over the past five years, LRT reports, citing the National Audit Office (Valstybės kontrolė).

State Controller Irena Segalovičienė emphasised that while defence funding often focuses on financial resources, effective procurement requires skilled professionals to manage risks and ensure timely delivery of essential supplies to the military.

“When we talk about defence financing, attention usually goes to the money. But money alone does not turn plans into real capabilities. We need people who can professionally organise procurement, manage risks, and ensure that the necessary resources reach the army on time. As defence investments grow, the competencies of procurement specialists become one of the most critical success factors. Therefore, it is essential to urgently build capacity that matches the system’s needs,” Segalovičienė said.

The audit, covering 2021–2025 and commissioned by the Seimas (Lithuanian parliament), revealed that procurement organisations in the defence system had an average of 84 approved procurement specialist positions, but by year-end, around 19% of these roles remained unfilled. The majority of vacancies (88%) were in the Defence Resources Agency, under the Ministry of National Defence. Recruitment often failed due to a lack of candidates or applicants not meeting the minimum score requirements.

The National Audit Office warned that the persistent shortage of procurement specialists could lead to delays, increased errors, and the risk of the military not receiving necessary resources on time. Additionally, in many cases, procurement was carried out by employees without the required procurement specialist certification.

Although certification is not mandatory for all staff involved in procurement, it confirms competence and, since 2023, at least one member of a Public Procurement Commission must hold it. The audit found that while all reviewed procurement cases included a certified member in the commission, on average, 48% of employees conducting procurement between 2023–2025 lacked certification. Auditors noted that relying on certified specialists is crucial for high-quality procurement and consistent application of legal requirements.

The audit also highlighted weaknesses in procurement planning and risk management. In the 12 organisations reviewed, procurement plans were amended an average of 14 times per year, with some plans expanding significantly—such as the Defence Resources Agency’s 2023 procurement plan, which grew 36-fold. Changes were driven by factors like shifting geopolitical situations, new needs, additional funding, or repeated failed procurement attempts.

Auditors concluded that the failure to plan major procurement groups at the start of the year indicates flaws in the identification of procurement needs, complicating effective procurement management and increasing the risk of delays and insufficient competition. Additionally, six of the 12 organisations did not fully assess all procedures listed in their high-risk procurement lists, despite these requiring the most attention.