Part 1: Key definitions Section 1: Procurement and covered procurement
This section defines "procurement" and "covered procurement", concepts which are relied on extensively in other parts of the legislation. The former is a broad concept designed to capture procurements of any nature. The latter is a subset of procurements and is the concept that shapes the application of the majority of the provisions in the legislation.
	Subsection (2) makes clear that "procurement" (and by extension, "covered procurement") includes steps taken for the purpose of awarding a contract. This might include preparatory steps like preliminary market engagement. This subsection also clarifies that these concepts extend to the management of a contract, up to and including termination (which includes expiry).
	Subsections (3) and (4) clarify that those concepts also apply to joint procurement and procurement by a centralised procurement authority. A centralised procurement authority is a contracting authority that is in the business of carrying out procurements for the benefit of other contracting authorities. Contracting authorities can delegate their obligations to run lawful procurements to a centralised procurement authority, for example where a centralised procurement authority establishes a framework for use by one or more other contracting authorities.  Where contracting authorities are acting on a more ad hoc basis to undertake procurement under subsection (3)(a), they do not delegate their responsibilities to undertake lawful procurement and remain liable for any unlawful award made by them as part of the joint arrangement.