This case study reflects a range of work undertaken from autumn 2023 to end 2024:
Climate prioritisation of categories of procurement
With support from the Scottish Government Sustainable Procurement Training Framework, the Prioritisation Tool, available on the Sustainable Procurement Tools, was used to assess categories of procurement. The prioritisation tool brings a standard, structured approach to the assessment of spend categories. It helps to ensure appropriate focus on identified priorities within public bodies and category / commodity planning.
The following criteria were considered from a climate perspective:
This resulted in a focus on seven high level categories, and their sub-categories, which are summarised below and in Table 1:
1. Travel and Transportation;
2. Construction;
3. Construction - Materials;
4. Construction – Transportation Works;
5. Environment and Fleet;
6. Social Care; and
7. Corporate/ Facilities Management.
Table 1: Climate and Procurement: Top 'sub-categories' across Fife Council categories 2024
Climate and Procurement: Top 'sub-categories' across Fife Council categories 2024 |
|
|---|---|
|
School bus |
Cleaning |
|
School taxi/ Minibus |
ICT |
|
School meals |
Build projects |
|
Housing transport |
Housing maintenance and installation |
|
Social work transport |
Transportation Works |
|
Residential care purchased children's |
Affordable Housing |
|
Respite care purchased |
Facilities management (Hard FM) |
|
Residential care purchased adults older people |
Civil engineering |
|
Environment and waste services |
Highway and road construction services |
|
Recycling and waste treatment |
Infrastructure Build and Surfacing and Paving |
|
Horticultural materials and services |
Road stone materials |
|
Catering |
Street lighting |
|
Estate management |
Signs and road signs |
|
|
Engineering materials |
Subject to a review of results, including any spend gaps and uncertainties, these results were then used in second stage prioritisation, to identify overall priority categories.
The initial focus on categories helped those with responsibility for relevant category strategies, to have clarity on climate priorities and to focus effort on capability building and market engagement.
Climate prioritisation of pipeline projects/ capital plans was also undertaken. 53 pipeline projects and 5 capital plans were analysed and spend data where available was reviewed.
The resulting list was filtered to select those projects and plans with a post-April 2024 start date, to ensure there would be the opportunity to influence outcomes. Results were reviewed and any gaps in information clarified.
The prioritised pipeline projects identified helped to ensure a relevant focus on key stakeholders, including those in climate and energy, and potential project requirements.
The results of prioritisation also helped inform the review of key completed projects.
This involved key stakeholders who were keen to consider best practice and practical approaches to previous and upcoming projects. The following projects were reviewed:
The GO Award for Environmental Initiatives in Passenger Transport Service Contracts reflected the proactive approach to market engagement and practical timetable for transitioning of bus emissions standards over the next few years.
The review however considered opportunities for continual improvement to help inform contract and supplier management and development for future iterations. This involved the use of Life Cycle Impact Mapping and a review of tender and mini-competition documents.
Opportunities identified included:
The review involved the use of Life Cycle Impact Mapping and a review of tender and mini-competition documents.
Opportunities identified included:
For example, the inclusion of a contract term stating: ‘the Tenderer must take all reasonable steps to ensure that Care at Home services provided support relevant environmental improvement. Tenderers are expected to work with the Council to support this, in Contract and Supplier Management, in ways that are practical, relevant and proportionate, according to services provided and the provider of services. This includes measures which are capable of being objectively monitored [with details of specific areas of focus].’
Inevitably, Construction is a priority climate procurement category, and the prioritisation of pipeline projects highlighted various construction projects.
Two workshops were held in September 2024 to support 11 internal stakeholders who have responsibility for construction related projects. These considered the use of the Sustainability Test, consideration of relevant and proportionate specifications and contract management requirements, given the variety of construction projects involved. Relevant guidance was also signposted including Procuring Resource Efficient Construction Projects Guidance, Procuring for Circular Economy Introduction and Category Guidance and a simple, unpublished, sustainability and construction projects matrix.
Ongoing development
The Council continues to embrace the focus on climate and wider sustainable procurement practices, including:
