Let’s start the New Year with a resolution to include community social, economic and sustainability objectives in our procurement activities. Implementation of social objectives in procurement should be done in a carefully considered manner. The following are suggested steps to achieving success.

• Organizational Mandate: Social Procurement goals should be addressed in the organization’s policies and strategic planning with implementation delegated to Purchasing.
• Get Training: resources are available, see below
• Procurement Planning: start small and research the best services that could benefit from inclusion of Social Procurement criteria.
• Involve the Marketplace: consider sharing your intentions with the industries that you intend to solicit services from. Do a market sounding and host a “lunch and learn” to share intentions and receive valuable feedback from potential contractors. Seek out and involve any social enterprises that may be active in your area.
• Start Small and Learn: include social procurement criteria in projects most likely to offer community social, economic and sustainable benefits.
• Develop Sustainable Vendor Relationships: ensure your contract management processes incorporate learning for all parties.

Resources:

Coastal Communities Social Procurement Initiative: https://ccspi.ca/

Buy Social Canada: https://www.buysocialcanada.com/

NECI:  https://neci-legaledge.com/

Province of BC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/services-for-government/bc-bid-resources/reference-resources/social-impact-procurement-guidelines?keyword=Social&keyword=Procurement

Want more assistance? Please contact me