The aim of this paper is to present the concept of 'procurement clinics', which have been used in complex property and urban development-related procurement processes in Finland, and to evaluate the benefits of the aforementioned concept. Procurement clinics are a systematised form of market dialogue under the Act of Public Procurement, which derives from the EU procurement directive. As a major finding, the paper presents a successful way to improve property and urban development-related procurement processes, especially when using competitive dialogue. As a by-product, the paper also presents methods of implementing a procurement clinic. The study was conducted in Finland only, which poses some limitations when applying the findings elsewhere. However, in EU countries the public procurement processes follow the aforementioned directive and should be rather similar.Practical implications of the study consist of improving procurement and urban development processes. These improvements are better private sector participation in procurement, shorter procurement processes and changes in the formatting of procurement.

Purpose:The aim of this paper is to present a concept of "Purchasing clinics", which have been used in complex property and urban development related procurement processes in Finland, and evaluate the benefits of aforementioned concept. Purchasing clinics are a systematized form of market dialogue under Finnish Act of public procurement, which again derives from EU Procurement directive. Design/methodology/approach:The data used has been acquired from a database maintained by RAKLI (The Finnish Association of Building Owners and Construction Clients) and consisting of sixteen cases, and by the authors' participation in various clinics. Findings:As a major finding, the paper presents a successful way of improving property and urban development related procurement processes, especially when using competitive dialogue, and ways of implementing a Purchasing clinic as by-product. Research limitations/implications:The study has been conducted in Finland only, which poses some limitations when applying the findings elsewhere. However, in EU countries the public procurement processes follow the aforementioned directive and should be rather similar. Practical implications:Practical implications of the study consist of improving purchasing and urban development processes. The improvements are better private sector participation in procurement, shorter procurement processes and changes in formatting the procurements. Originality/value:Originality of the paper lies in systematic way of organising market dialogue.