• The publication responds to the need of Local Action Groups (LAGs) to gain in-depth knowledge of the current public sector contract law and its application to these types of entities.

Local Action Groups (LAGs) are non-profit, public-private, assembly-based entities with a regional scope. Their primary function is the design, implementation, and management of Participatory Local Development Strategies (PLDS). These strategies are part of the LEADER program , which is included in Measure 19 of the Rural Development Programs (RDPs).

The autonomous communities—which manage their respective RDPs, which address the specific rural development needs of each territory—select the LAGs through a public call for proposals during each programming period.

This is why knowledge and use of the public sector contract law is essential for GALs, and they need to be very clear about it.

Features of the guide

Hence, the RRN, whose duties include technical assistance to the GAL (R 1305/2013 ), publishes this guide which has the following characteristics :

1. Contents: The guide focused on the requirements requested by LAGs through a RRN survey conducted in June 2020, to which 90 groups (37.3% of the country's LAGs) responded. This ensures that the guide meets the needs of these entities.
2. Format: Visual, with numerous diagrams for easy reference. It also includes a final chapter of questions and answers as a tutorial.
3. Expert authors: those responsible for the contents of the guide have been:

• Carlos Cardosa , secretary-intervenor of the Porzuna City Council (Ciudad Real), as well as administrative and financial manager of the GAL “Entreparques” (Northern Mountains-Cabañeros Association of Ciudad Real).
• José de Álvaro Benito, financial administrative manager of the Tiétar Valley GAL .
• Manuel Fueyo Bros, who has freely provided the diagrams for Chapter 7, previously included in the publication " Outlines of the Public Sector Contracts Law ," for the guide. Manuel is a trustee at the Audit Office of the Principality of Asturias and a collaborator at the Public Procurement Observatory .

4. Review: The final review of the guide was conducted by the Independent Office for the Regulation and Supervision of Procurement (OIRESCon) , which reports to the Ministry of Finance and Public Service.

Background

The application of current public sector contract law to GALs has been identified as one of the main shortcomings these groups face in resolving their procedures.

In response, the RRN has promoted the following activities related to this issue:

• Training workshop “ New Law on Public Sector Contracts and National Subsidy Database ” (Madrid, 10/10/2018 ): this workshop was aimed at both the GAL and all members of the RRN Assembly.
• Recruitment training for Local Action Groups ( Biar, Alicante, 21-24/10/2019 ): training aimed exclusively at LAGs.

To access the guide, please follow the link below.