4. Mistakes to avoid

4.1 Don't confuse public procurement with other tools

Public procurement contracts differ from other tools used by the public sector.

• Subsidy: a financial contribution is paid by the government to support an operation justified by the public interest; this contribution is not paid in exchange for work, supplies or services; the operation thus supported is initiated and carried out by a third party.

• Delegation of public services: the administration entrusts the management of a public service for which it is responsible to an economic operator (called the delegatee), whose remuneration is substantially linked to the results of the operation of the service, and not to the payment of a price.

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