Case Study PPN 01/21 - EA Fuel Oils Contract

The Education Authority (EA) awarded a Contract to LCC Group Ltd on 6 July 2023  for the supply and delivery of Fuel Oil to the EA, and schools throughout Northern Ireland. The Contract was awarded for a period of two years commencing on 01 September 2023 with a total contract value of £40 million.

Gas Oil and Kerosene account for approximately 82% of spend for heating schools and DERV Oil exclusively used for vehicles. This is therefore a strategically important contract that facilitates the opening of schools (Gas Oil and Kerosene) and facilitates the delivery of children’s transportation and services to schools (diesel).

PPN 01/21 mandates Contracting Authorities to include the inclusion of a social value clause within all contracts. To leverage public spend to deliver social value, which is a key driver for the Executive’s 

Programme for Government objectives. 

Due to the high value and strategic nature of this contract, EA expand those mandatory social value obligations to include delivery of initiatives under:

• Theme 3 Delivering Zero Carbon including supporting environmental protection and improvement, and supply chains strategies for minimising Carbon Footprint and Emissions.
• Theme 4 Promoting Wellbeing including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. 

These themes were selected due to the subject matter of the Contract and with the focus on delivering for children and young people.

LCC Group Ltd appointed a Social Value delivery expert to assist with the implementing their social value contractual obligations. LCC Group Ltd proposed various initiatives to deliver against both social value themes included.  Through a partnership approach, LCC engaged with EA to review these initiatives and agreed to deliver several initiatives which would directly benefit EA’s internal and external stakeholders with children and young people being the main beneficiary of the Social Value initiatives.

The social value initiatives delivered to date include:

• Provision of a Carbon Awareness and Sustainability session – Places provided for EA Staff.
• Implementation of a biodiversity initiative – Provided Biodiversity Activity Books to a VCSE organisation “Wee Chicks” for young people and resources for 80 disadvantaged children to make a window box/ planter. Wee Chicks is a not-for-profit social enterprise, operating in North Belfast providing child care services such as pay as you go creche, after schools and holiday camp provision in their local area.
• Provision of Solar Feasibility Studies to 3 schools – Studies completed at Finaghy Primary School, Ashfield Boys School and Coláiste Feirste.

Through the delivery of these initiatives, LCC Group have successfully assisted EA with the delivery of their strategic objectives including the management of our resources efficiently and effectively by contributing towards delivery of net zero carbon through engagement with EA staff, children and young people and are supporting EA delivery of zero target carbon reduction strategies in the long term.

Through the development of a partnership approach with the LCC Group, EA have seen how collaboration can bring benefit through social value initiatives to a range of EA beneficiaries in compliance with PPN 01/2 Social Value within Procurement and NI Executive Draft Programme of Government.

LCC Group Ltd continue to engage with EA to design and deliver social value initiatives. taking on board the concerns of our children and young people when determining initiatives that can be delivered during the remaining Contract Period.

EA CPS, in collaboration with our internal stakeholders, Strategic Investment Board, service users and Contractors can continue to develop and deliver positive outcomes through the delivery of Social Value initiatives for our children and young people.