Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Procurement
COVID-19 changed procurement practices significantly. We saw shifts in supply chains, new health and safety needs, and more flexible contract terms. These changes affected how organisations buy goods and services, but they also left many businesses and local communities in a weaker position. Theme 1 of the Social Value Model allow public sector buyers via their procurement process to specifically highlight focus on this theme in your social value tender response. This means you need to understand what it is and what to expect when it comes to bid writing.
Post-COVID Procurement Processes
After COVID-19, procurement changed for good. Digital became the norm. We now see more e-procurement systems and online bidding.
Health and safety got baked into procurement decisions. Buyers now often ask about suppliers' COVID-19 measures. Some contracts include pandemic response plans as standard.
Sustainability and social value grew in importance. The UK government now requires 10% of bid scoring to focus on social value. This includes COVID-19 recovery efforts, which is theme 1 of the social value model. This is the focus of our article.
Understanding Theme 1 of the Social Value Model: COVID-19 Recovery
Theme 1 of the Social Value Model focuses on helping local communities manage and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. This theme will be used as a priority area in tenders and procurement processes, aligning with broader government objectives to support economic and social recovery post-pandemic.
What is Theme 1: COVID-19 Recovery?
Theme 1 aims to use social value to alleviate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on providing benefits that can aid the recovery of local communities and economies, particularly through employment, re-training, community support, and innovative working methods. The government monitors several outputs to assess the impact of these commercial interventions.
Why is it included in Tenders?
The pandemic has significantly disrupted economies, leading to increased unemployment and economic instability. Theme 1 helps address these issues by promoting job creation and re-training opportunities. By focusing on health and wellbeing, this theme helps reduce the strain on health services and supports individuals affected by COVID-19. It will strengthen community support systems and improve resilience against future disruptions.
Including this social value theme in tenders ensures that public sector contracts contribute positively to the recovery efforts, aligning procurement with national recovery goals.
Examples of What Theme 1 Should Include
Here are practical examples of activities and commitments that align with the criteria of Theme 1:
- Employment Creation and Re-Training:
- MAC 1.1: Develop recruitment practices that focus on those left unemployed due to COVID-19, particularly in high-growth sectors. For example, offering training programs that result in recognised qualifications to help bridge skills gaps.
- Sub-Criteria: Provide career advice and support, such as mentoring, mock interviews, and CV guidance. Offer work experience opportunities, pre-employment courses, and paid internships.
- Community and Business Support:
- MAC 1.2 & MAC 1.3: Engage with communities to support those most affected by the pandemic, including shielding individuals. Support local businesses and organisations to adapt and recover, helping them implement new working methods and increase resilience.
- Sub-Criteria: Activities like co-designing services with local communities, raising awareness of new market opportunities, and supporting startups and small businesses.
- Health and Wellbeing:
- MAC 1.4: Implement measures to support the physical and mental health of employees, such as adhering to the Mental Health at Work commitment standards. This includes offering mental health training, promoting wellbeing initiatives, and reducing demand on health and care services.
- Sub-Criteria: Measures to monitor and improve employee wellbeing, such as regular health checks and wellbeing surveys, with action plans based on the findings.
- Workplace Improvements:
- MAC 1.5: Improve workplace conditions to support recovery efforts, including effective social distancing, remote working capabilities, and sustainable travel solutions.
- Sub-Criteria: Implementing flexible working arrangements, ensuring workplaces are safe and accommodating for all employees, and promoting sustainable travel options to reduce environmental impact.
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Social Value in Bid Writing
Social value has become a key element in bid writing for government contracts.
When writing bids, we must include clear social value metrics. The UK government now requires at least 10% of the evaluation to focus on social value. We should use the Social Value Model as a guide. This model has five main themes, including COVID-19 recovery.
To show our commitment, we can:
- Set specific, measurable targets for local job creation
- Outline plans for up-skilling workers in the community
- Propose partnerships with local charities or social enterprises
It's vital to link these metrics to the contract's goals. We must explain how our social value efforts will support the buyer's objectives.
Narratives on Community Benefits
Telling a compelling story about community benefits is key. We need to paint a vivid picture of how our work will improve lives. This narrative should be:
- Genuine and backed by evidence
- Focused on long-term, sustainable impact
- Tailored to the specific community where the work will take place
For example, we might describe how a construction project will create a training programme for local youth. We'd explain the skills they'll gain, the qualifications they'll earn, and how this will boost their job prospects.
Balancing Cost and Social Impact
Finding the right balance between cost and social impact is tricky but crucial. We must show that our social value initiatives are:
- Cost-effective
- Aligned with the project's core goals
- Able to deliver tangible benefits
A useful approach is to highlight the return on investment for social value activities. For instance, we could show how investing in local suppliers might cost slightly more upfront but will boost the local economy and create jobs.
Social Value Benefits
Click hereBid Writing Best Practices for Social Value Themes
Effective bid writing for social value themes requires clear objectives and evidence-based reporting. We'll explore key strategies to strengthen your social value responses and demonstrate meaningful impact.
Articulating Social Value Objectives
When writing social value responses, we need to be specific and measurable. We should:
• Align our objectives with the buyer's priorities
• Use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
• Focus on local community needs and challenges
• Quantify expected outcomes (e.g. number of jobs created, carbon reduction)
• Explain how we'll deliver and monitor social value initiatives
It's crucial to show a deep understanding of social value concepts. We must link our proposed activities to wider societal benefits and long-term positive change.
Evidence-Based Social Value Reporting
Strong evidence is key to winning social value bids. We should:
• Include case studies of past successful social value projects
• Provide data on outcomes and impacts achieved
• Use third-party verification or accreditations where possible
• Show how we measure and report social value (e.g. SROI, TOMs framework)
• Demonstrate our track record of delivering social value commitments
Clear reporting methods and KPIs are essential. We need to explain how we'll capture data, monitor progress, and share results with the buyer throughout the contract. It's a specific plan, which you can match against your contract delivery plan to ensure it is specific and time-bound. Without this a public sector buyer won't be able to award high marks or monitor your social value proposals.
