2026 Public Procurement Trends Report
Connect the intelligence that public procurement already creates.
Five trends shaping public procurement, from the SOVRA 2026 ebook.
60.31%
of agencies are only partially modernized
48.85%
do not formally assess supplier risk
16.07%
feel very prepared to adopt AI
Cost
remains the dominant supplier selection factor
Connecting Suppliers to Thousands of Agencies with Active Projects
Public Procurement at a Defining Moment
Public procurement is under increasing pressure. Rising costs, expanding compliance demands, and rapid technological advances are reshaping expectations, often without additional staff or budget.
SOVRA’s 2026 Public Procurement Survey analyzes how agencies across the United States and Canada are responding. Based on insights from 131 senior public procurement professionals, this report highlights where modernization is progressing and where it continues to fall short.
Inside the report
- Why partial modernization remains common, and the risks it creates
- How AI and automation are expected to reshape procurement despite uneven readiness
- Where supplier risk management practices lag
- How connected systems strengthen visibility, compliance, and collaboration
- Why procurement's strategic role continues to expand
Key findings at a glance
Based on responses from 131 senior public procurement professionals in the United States and Canada.
Agencies only partially modernized
60.31%
Do not formally assess supplier risk
48.85%
Feel very prepared to adopt AI
16.07%
Dominant supplier selection factor
Cost
These findings provide a practical snapshot of where public procurement stands today and where targeted action can drive measurable improvement.
Who the report is for
Procurement leaders
Benchmark your modernization progress against peer agencies before budget season.
Compliance and risk teams
See where supplier risk practices lag and what a formal assessment looks like.
Finance and IT stakeholders
Understand what connected systems change for visibility, reporting, and audit.