# Development vs acquisition of software

- **Decision to acquire or develop the software:** government institutions should seek advice from RISA about the acquiring or developing the software.  
    The below criteria should be based on in order to take a decision between acquisition and  
    development:
- **Government institution can go for development in case:**

− Requirements are very specific and cannot be found on the market;  
− Commercial solutions have prohibitive prices;  
− Commercial solutions’ vendors do not supply source codes;  
− The support is critical and it is not to be provided by a vendors; and  
− The institution should have and ensure the development and software maintenance capabilities are available in house or locally by Rwandan companies.

- **Government institution can go for acquisition in case:**

− The software is readily and cheaply available on the market;  
− The delivery time is critically short; or  
− The software reliability is very critical.