Procurement may be defined as the process which creates, manages and fulfils contracts.

Procurement accordingly commences once a need for goods, services or works has been identified and it ends when the goods are received, or the services or construction works are completed. Public procurement, because of its nature and size, can have a significant impact on social and economic development if it is used to leverage social and development objectives.

The South African government requires that its considerable expenditure on the delivery, maintenance and operation of infrastructure (fixed assets that are constructed or result from construction operations) contribute to an increase in the number of people who have part or full occupational qualifications registered on the NQF or professional designations awarded by professional bodies or statutory councils. This standard has been prepared to leverage contributions towards the increase of the pool of qualified skilled people, and where required professionally registered, through training on professional services, services, design and build or engineering and construction works contracts associated with such expenditure. This standard establishes a minimum contract skills development goal which is to be achieved in the performance of a contract in relation to the provision of different types of workplace opportunities linked to work associated with a contract which culminate in or lead to:

Contractors are responsible for achieving the contract skills development goal and are provided with a number of methods for measuring their achievements. They may, if need be, devolve their obligations onto subcontractors.

This standard should be applied to a contract or an order issued in terms of a framework agreement that has a duration of 12 months or more, and a contract amount exceeding:

This Standard will be subject to review every five years, or sooner if required.