Procurement decisions should always be based on obtaining overall value for money, taking into account factors such as price, quality, delivery, service and sustainability.
Taking equality into account at an early stage can also help to ensure goods and services procured externally are fit for purpose for all staff and students, and can reduce costs in the longer term.
This guide has been developed with assistance from the British Universities Finance Directors Group (formerly the Association of University Procurement Officers) and procurement and equality and diversity practitioners from a range of institutions. It breaks down the procurement process step-by-step, providing practical guidance, ideas and case studies at each stage. The guide also features a useful toolkit.
Areas covered include:
- Why embed equality in procurement?
- Embedding equality in policy, strategy and practice
- Putting equality into the procurement process:
- Planning the contract
- Tender process
- Managing and monitoring contracts
- Supporting departmental or devolved purchasing
- Toolkit – model questionnaires, contract conditions and relevance assessment tools
