| Finding the balance - Value for money versus community benefits |
Are you concerned that incorporating sustainability requirements into contracts results in less good value for money for the public sector?
Public servants are required to take value for money issues very seriously but by thinking carefully about what your requirements of a contract and by efficient and effective contract management you can achieve a much wider range of benefits for the community you serve.
Social Issues in Purchasing is guidance issued by the Office of Government and Commerce in 2006. Click here to see a full copy http://www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/Social_Issues_in_Purchasing.pdf
There are useful cases and information available in this document. In summary though click here for useful tips:-
Don’t
• Confuse obtaining value for money with awarding contracts on the basis of lowest initial price
• Act in such a way as to distort competition or discriminate against candidates from other member states
• Leave consideration of social issues until too late in the process
• Add social elements to a contract without careful evaluation and justification of any additional costs
• Ask suppliers about their policies generally on issues which are not related to the specific contract. This is to ensure that award decisions are robust legally….Looked at another way, a contracting authority may ask for evidence that tenderers have the requisite expertise or skills to fulfil the contract, or evidence that they are complying with relevant social legislation, where this is relevant to the contract.
