Commissioning and pre-procurement
It is important that a buyer carries out an appropriate level of due diligence early in the process to identify biodiversity risks or opportunities associated with the products, services or works to be procured. All relevant internal stakeholders should be involved in this early consideration, e.g. heads of service, budget holders, finance, specifiers, end users and others.
Checks should be made either at pre-procurement, or at least in the early stages of the process. An appropriate strategy should focus on identifying:
- What are the intended outcomes from the planned procurement – functional, technical, performance, end-user requirements?
- What are the biodiversity ambitions, e.g. biodiversity enhancement (net gain) goals, for example habitat restoration, creation or expansion, reduction in raw material consumption, circular economy development, cost savings and others? This may include waste goals – for example, the avoidance of single use items where practicable (and impacts on littering and ocean plastics).
- Have all relevant whole life or life cycle costs been considered, including any that relate to the procurement, use, maintenance, and end of life of relevant products or assets?
- Are there opportunities to create positive impacts for biodiversity e.g. by using nature-based solutions?
- Is the procurement really necessary? Can potential impacts on biodiversity be prevented through avoiding the procurement? for example by leasing or sharing assets instead?
- Utilisation – how are products and services used, so as to prevent risks to biodiversity, including appropriate management of waste?
Market engagement and collaboration
Supplier engagement is essential to allow the market to understand and prepare for developing requirements and this must be undertaken before the procurement process begins. Early engagement with the market can help a buyer understand the current and evolving market capacity, capability and maturity, and the opportunities and risks for sustainable outcomes before starting a procurement process. Market engagement can also be used to support information sharing, leading to innovative ideas. It can also help the buyer learn about the potential suppliers and their supply chains. This may be done by issuing a Request for Information or by organising market events where information can be gathered:
- Have you engaged with the market to set out your biodiversity objectives?
- How capable is the market in delivering these ambitions?
- Factor in sufficient time to conduct an effective market dialogue – communicate your intended objectives, outcomes, timescales, and the project business case. This signals your intent to the market (as well as internal stakeholders) and provides a basis for measuring and managing overall performance.
See the Annex for examples.
Back to Legal and Policy Context
Continue to Pre-Contract Notification
