Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note

The recent Procurement Policy Note (PPN) published by the Cabinet Office focusses on taking account of social value when awarding contracts. Although the wider public sector is out of scope of the policy, it could still be interesting reading for anyone in a procurement role to learn about the new model to deliver social value through government's commercial activities.

The PPN explains that in central government contracts, social value should be explicitly evaluated in all central government procurement, where the requirements are related and proportionate to the subject-matter of the contract, rather than just ‘considered’ as currently required under the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.

The model articulates the areas of priority focus for social value delivery in central government procurement, in the form of policy themes and outcomes. Procurement teams are to select objectives that are relevant and proportionate to their procurement from this menu; for example creating employment opportunities for those who face barriers such as prison-leavers. Detailed guidance on application of the model is due to be published but for now you can view the policy themes and outcomes in Annex A of the PPN.

The model provides interesting insight into how central government procurement teams are taking into account social value when awarding contracts.

Our previous blog post “Putting social value at the heart of procurement” should provide those undertaking procurements on behalf of schools, academies and colleges with some practical tips, alongside our previous articles:

1. New Janitorial and Cleaning Supplies tender and social value
2. Using the Janitorial and Cleaning Supplies frameworks to create social value
3. Have you tried to include Social Value in any of your commodity tenders?

More information on The Social Value Act can also be found on The Further Education Library of Procurement which is a free resource (funded by CPL Group), available to all schools, academies and colleges.