The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 requires all public bodies in England and Wales to consider how the services they commission and procure might improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their respective areas.

It asks that public bodies consider the ways that they could most benefit society as part of each decision made. Social Value can be defined in a number of ways including:

• the quantification of the relative importance that people place on the changes they experience in their lives
• the wider financial and non-financial impacts of programmes, organisations, and interventions, including the well-being of communities, social capital, and the environment
• a tool for smarter procurement in a world where value for money really matters

The Council’s vision for Bexley is as a thriving and ambitious place of opportunity through education and employment and, in light of the above, the Council wants to work with its contractors to ensure that local people get opportunities to gain skills and access employment generated from services being delivered in Bexley.

Suppliers may therefore be asked, as part of their bid, to suggest peripheral social value benefits to the Council that will be delivered as a result of being awarded part or all of the contract being procured.

If the Council has decided to include social value elements in it’s tender evaluation Suppliers will find a related question in the Non-commercial (Quality) Schedule document (if applicable).