Key Points

• The Ligue's multi-year research initiative is an effort to replace assumptions about security procurement with a clear, data-driven understanding of how public authorities actually award guarding contracts.
• The upcoming GSB Pulse examines fundamental questions about the balance of price and quality, the structure of tenders, and indicators that shape service outcomes across Europe.
• The global research process is revealing significant gaps in published information and highlighting the need for better, more comprehensive, and more transparent data collection.

Lots of factors shape the security landscape, but few more than public procurement. Every contract awarded, every criterion applied, and every decision made by a public authority influences not only the quality of protective services delivered to the public, but also the professionalism, stability, and future of the private security industry.

Yet, despite its importance, understanding of security procurement remains fuzzy. There is a lot of conventional wisdom but not a ton of hard facts.

That is precisely why the International Security Ligue undertook a global, long-term research initiative to examine how public authorities purchase security services — beginning with Europe.

For years, practitioners and industry leaders have shared a sense that procurement processes fail to reflect the complexity and mission critical nature of security work. But much of that understanding has been based on anecdotes or isolated case studies. Consequently, the research set out to answer a fundamental question: If we looked deeply at tens of thousands of tenders, what story would the data tell?

Consequently, the research set out to answer a fundamental question: If we looked deeply at tens of thousands of tenders, what story would the data tell?

This upcoming issue of GSB Pulse, scheduled for release at the end of May, is the first major output of the Ligue’s global research initiative effort. In conjunction with Open Contracting Partnership and NASCO, it is beleived to be the largest examination of public procurement of guarding services ever conducted, built on a structured review of nearly 40,000 tender records across Europe. Rather than influencing specific legislative processes or commenting on ongoing policy debates, it serves to illuminate structural patterns — the underlying mechanics of how security services are bought — so that stakeholders can better understand the forces shaping the market.

Answering Critical Questions

The study explores several foundational questions that have long lacked empirical clarity:

• How do public authorities weigh price when awarding guarding contracts?
• Are specific markers for quality in security services part of the equation, such as officer competence, training, or responsible employment practices?
• Which procurement procedures and contract structures support a more balanced, multi-criteria approach to contract awards?
• How frequently do tenders reference elements that directly influence service quality?
• What does the competitive landscape look like — from supplier profiles to bid volumes to contract values?
• What do these patterns reveal about the health, maturity, and trajectory of the security services market?

Why Procurement Matters Now

Public authorities today face a more complex risk environment than ever before, so the timing of this global research endeavor is not incidental. Security professionals are expected to interpret emerging threats, integrate new technologies, and respond intelligently in dynamic situations. At the same time, many governments are revisiting procurement frameworks with the stated aim of elevating quality.

Yet the Ligue’s consultations with industry leaders revealed a persistent concern: that procurement practices on the ground often lag behind the needs of modern security operations. Understanding whether this perception is accurate — and why — requires data at scale.

Understanding whether this perception is accurate — and why — requires data at scale.

What the Research Process Revealed About the Market

Building a database of nearly 40,000 tenders was itself a revealing exercise. It exposed significant variation in how much information contracting authorities publish, how consistently award criteria are described, and how differently countries structure their procurement processes.

The forthcoming GSB Pulse will give the sector and associated stakeholders a shared factual foundation from which to discuss how procurement can better support public safety, industry professionalism, and the well-being of frontline officers.

When available, the report will be available for free download at: https://www.international-security-ligue.org/initiatives/responsible-tendering