AQW 15507/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 26/02/2021
Answered On Date: 09/03/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Finance how social and environmental value are assessed with regards to public procurement contracts.

Answer:

The Executives Public Procurement Policy requires Departments to procure goods, works and services on the basis of the most advantageous combination of cost, quality and sustainability.

Business cases for procurements are required to include an assessment of the costs and benefits of social and environmental objectives to be included in contracts. Further assessment is carried during the tender evaluation and contract management stages of procurement to ensure the benefits contained in the business case are delivered.

The Procurement Board is developing a new policy on social value which will strengthen the incorporation of social and environmental value in public procurement contracts.