In designing contracts that will have community enhancement requirements (including employment, environmental and cultural enhancement) built in, early market engagement is important to identify the capacity of the market to deliver these.
This also makes sure that potential bidders know as early as possible that this will form part of the contract.
Where a contract includes community benefit requirements, this should be indicated in the call for competition (whether this is a contract notice or in the Prior Information Notice where it is being used as a call for competition) as a minimum, the contracting authority should state:
‘The Contracting Authority has included obligations within the specification and contract conditions relating to further requirements to achieve community benefits which are relevant to the services to be delivered.’
‘The contract/framework agreement supports the Scottish Government's National Performance Framework, and the National Outcomes which articulate the Government's Purpose to focus on creating a more successful country with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through increased wellbeing, and sustainable and inclusive economic growth. This framework supports the following National Outcomes, and contractors are expected to support the authority’s aim to achieve these. [Insert relevant National Outcomes].’
The Invitation to Tender (ITT) may further explain why the requirement is part of the contracting authorities’ purposes, policies and activities.
