Tech companies seeking to supply the public sector are hitting a number of problems related to the Government’s Social Value Framework, according to IT industry association techUK.
It has published a report, Improving Social Value in Technology Procurement, to mark the third anniversary of the framework becoming a mandatory factor in the evaluation of tenders. It is aimed at promoting social and environmental objectives through government contracts.
While the report is supportive of the aim, it says the methods to deliver social value have not kept pace with how those for government procurement have evolved.
This has created a number of problems, including a lack of clarity about social value, insufficient measurement and evaluation, a lack of integration into other procurement processes, and insufficient engagement between officials and suppliers.
In addition, there is a lack of specification of social value and appropriate monitoring, and inconsistency in how it is understood and applied.
Survey findings
A survey of techUK members showed that 73% believed government is not consistent in how it outlines social value requirements in invitations to tend, and 59% did not believe the requirements are aligned to industry strengths.
Other findings were that 67% do not think government provides constructive feedback on the issue for unsuccessful bidders, and only 45% of SME respondents reported high confidence in addressing social value in bids.
All this has prompted a number of recommendations, including the development of a social value playbook for government officials to provide clear and consistent guidance on how it should be integrated into procurement processes.
This should come with improvements in stakeholder engagement, the removal of Covid-19 as a key theme in social value, better monitoring and evaluation, and scope for buyers to take a more proportionate approach to the issue under the Procurement Bill.
techUK also advocates that government bodies should provide an annual statement on their relevant achievements, and adopt its buyer’s checklist as standard practice.
In addition, the report urges Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office to investigate the issue.
techUK said it is already working closely with the Cabinet Office to address some of the recommendations.
Positive impact prize
Matthew Evans, director of markets at techUK, commented: “The prize for getting social value in tech procurement right will both have greater positive impact across the Government’s social value priorities, because of a more cohesive approach, and will also see the lowering of social value as a barrier to greater SME involvement in public procurements.
“This report serves to government the first step to get the Social Value Framework right.”
Simon Godfrey, chair of the organisation’s public services board, said: “Early pre-procurement engagement and through contract life collaboration between procuring authorities and suppliers is key. Our board is therefore pleased that a joint Cabinet Office and techUK social value committee is working together to improve policy adoption and implementation by procurers and suppliers alike.”
