Case Study for PPN 01/21, PPN 03/21 & PPN 05/21 - Social Value in EA School Furniture Framework

The Education Authority (EA)’s School Furniture Framework Agreement creates practical opportunities for suppliers to deliver outcomes that benefit communities, the environment, and the wider economy. This case study demonstrates how compliance with the Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs) was achieved.

• Develop procurement strategies that align with the requirements of:
  • PPN 01/21 Social Value in Procurement
  • PPN 03/21 Supply Chain Resilience
  • PPN 05/21 Human Rights in Public Procurement
• Engage with suppliers to deliver social value requirements

PPN 01/21 Social Value in Procurement

• The EA Commercial Procurement Service (CPS) has included a range of mandatory requirements clauses. This includes mandating compliance with relevant employment, equality, health and safety law, human rights standards, adherence to relevant collective agreements, adoption of fair work practices for all workers engaged in the delivery of the framework, and the real living wage. The supplier also has obligations in relation to human rights and modern slavery prevention.
• CPS worked with the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) to enhance the existing points-based social value model by creating new initiatives that deliver more direct and tangible benefits for schools. These strengthened obligations are now embedded in the current framework agreement, ensuring that social value points are aligned with clearly defined educational benefits for stakeholders.

PPN 03/21 Supply Chain Resilience

• EA developed a multi-supplier, multi-lot, Framework Agreement to ensure continual contractual coverage, even where there is supply chain failure on particular product lines thereby maintaining the availability of similar products within the Framework Agreement and minimising disruption.
• The Specification of Requirements includes a provision that all timber and wood-derived products procured by the supplier for use in the performance of the Framework Agreement are ‘Legal Timber’ in compliance with the ‘Government Timber Procurement’ policy, promoting sustainability. Clauses are also included to ensure any information provided can be validated.
• Social value points-based themes in relation to ‘Building Ethical and Resilient Supply Chains’ are also included to encourage the use of micro-enterprises and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations within the supply chain.

PPN 05/21 Human Rights in Public Procurement

• The Framework Agreement includes clauses in relation to human rights and modern slavery prevention, including identifying sources within the supply chain where there are high risks of human rights abuses, providing training to staff involved in supply chain management, and requiring suppliers on the framework to provide relevant human rights policies.
• Social value themes within the Framework Agreement in relation to ‘Theme 2: Building Ethical and Resilient Supply Chains’ and ‘Theme 4: Promoting Wellbeing’ further promote positive behaviours in relation to human rights in the supply chain.

These actions embed social value, resilience, and human rights requirements into the framework and supplier delivery plans.

• CPS has worked closely with SIB, and framework suppliers where spend has exceeded £100,000 to develop social value delivery plans that reflect suppliers’ capabilities while still meeting EA’s social value priorities.
• Several suppliers have already developed their social value delivery plans and begun implementing them in the first year of the framework. Early activity has included the delivery of educational benefits such as unwaged work experience opportunities for young people and donations to schools, alongside initiatives relating to building ethical and resilient supply chains, delivering zero-carbon outcomes, and promoting wellbeing.
• CPS continues to engage with suppliers to support consistent and ongoing delivery of these commitments.

CPS continues to work closely with suppliers to monitor and support the delivery of social value commitments under the framework. The implementation of social value plans during the first year has shown how these initiatives can be shaped to meet the specific needs of schools and other stakeholders. Early activity, such as unwaged work experience opportunities and donations, demonstrates the potential for suppliers to contribute in ways that directly benefit children and young people. As expenditure through the framework grows, suppliers’ points targets increase accordingly, and CPS maintains ongoing engagement to ensure social value delivery remains consistent, meaningful, and aligned with EA priorities.