Final answer:
The answer to whether public procurements can serve a social function by providing non-profit services is true. Public goods like safety services and infrastructure exemplify such procurements, aiming for the public interest rather than profit-making. Examples include police, fire services, and public roads.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether, in public procurement, there is a social function where procurements may be made to provide services that do not generate profit or revenue. The answer to this is true. Public procurement often involves the provision of public goods, which are services or goods provided by the government that are not meant to generate profit, but rather to serve the public interest and welfare.
Examples of public goods include law enforcement, fire services, and infrastructure like roads and public parks. These services are typically offered to all members of a community without direct charges for individual use.
For instance, fire and police services protect the entire neighborhood, and you cannot exclude some people from this protection without affecting the others. Similarly, when a new road is built, everyone can benefit from it, regardless of whether they directly pay for its construction.
Some public services may involve a mix of free provision and fees for certain additional services or amenities, as in the case of a city park where the entrance might be free but parking or reserving picnic areas has an associated cost.
Additionally, some economists argue that government services can exist alongside private sector offerings, competing for users, such as public schools and universities versus private educational institutions, or public hospitals in comparison with private healthcare facilities.