Cap.22:23 Puauc PROCUREMENT AND DrsPOSAL OF PuBuc AssETs No.S/2017 (a) it is proper to direct any group of two or more procuring entities to conduct their procurement by way of shared procurement arrangements; and (b) the shared procurement is of such a nature as to make the use of a framework agreement expedient, desirable or necessary in order to achieve economies of scale; the Authority shall negotiate the framework agreement on behalf of the procuring entities concerned. (4) A procuring entity that is a party to a shared procurement arrangement governed by a framework agreement referred to in subsection (3) must obtain its procurement requirements in accordance vvith that agreement unless it satisfies the Authority in writing that it is able to obtain such requirements at a better price or on better contract terms by means of a separate procurement. (5) Nothing in this section inhibits(a) a procuring entity from negotiating a framework agreement on its own for procurement requirements that are not subject to shared procurement arrangements; or (b) a group of procuring entities which are not governed by a framework agreement referred to in subsection (3) from negotiating a suitable framework agreement for their common procurement requirements with a view to achieving economies of scale. PART IV PROCUREMENT PREPARATION AND PLANNING 20 Procurement preparation ( 1) For the purposes of any procurement, a procurement management unit shall use only the standard bidding documents that are produced and issued by the Authority. (2) A procuring entity shall ensure that, before initiating procurement proceedings, adequate funds have been budgeted and allocated to the procurement, including any funds required for the publication of notices: Provided that the absence of budgeted or allocated funds shall not inhibit a procuring entity from concluding a framework agreement, as long as any orders made in pursuance of such agreement are, on the date of the order, financed by budgeted or allocated funds. (3) Before initiating proceedings for a procurement contract that will commit the entity to make payments in subsequent financial years, a procuring entity shall(a) obtain approval from(i) the Minister responsible for finance, where the procuring entity is a Ministry or department of government; or (ii) such other person as may be prescribed, in any other case; (b) (c) and ensure that funds for the current financial year are budgeted and allocated to the procurement; and ensure that funds for the procurement are included in budgets for subsequent financial years: Provided that this paragraph shall not preclude the procuring entity from including provision in the procurement contract for a right to cancel the contract in the event that sufficient funding is not included in a budget for a subsequent financial year. 57