The 2014 European Public Procurement Directive opened new possibilities for the provision of care services, broadening the range of available formulas. Despite this, public procurement remains the most widely used approach in this area, sparking a debate about which option is the most suitable.

In this exploratory study, four cases of local entities using alternative formulas to public procurement for the provision of care services are examined. Challenges and advantages are identified from the perspective of local entities as well as from the viewpoint of third-sector social organizations. The results show that local entities and third-sector organizations value non-contractual formulas very positively, as they better adapt to the needs of care services, offer greater flexibility, and reduce bureaucracy, among other benefits. However, there are hesitations to innovate with these non-contractual models, often due to a lack of knowledge about the regulations and/or the lack of legal certainty surrounding these formulas.