Equality and Diversity in Procurement

Integrating Equality and Diversity into Procurement

Making Equalities Real In Tamworth

(MERIT)

Introduction

  • Tamworth Borough Council is committed to the principals of fairness and valuing diversity in order to secure positive outcomes for all sections of our community.
  • The Council has a legal responsibility to ensure that not only do we comply with all current legislation but that any contractor/organisation that carry out work for or on behalf of the Authority also comply.

The role of Procurement in promoting Equality and Diversity

The Council provide a wide range of services to the community and businesses in the Borough. In some cases we provide these services directly, in other cases on our behalf by contractors and partners.

Each year the Council tenders and contracts millions of pounds for buying goods, works and services for the benefit of the Tamworth Borough community. We need to ensure that not only is public money spent in a way that ensures value for money but also, that it is geared towards the diverse needs and requirements of the community and does not lead to unfair discrimination and social exclusion.

The promotion of equality and diversity in procurement will help to :-

  • Encourage other organisations to promote and practice the Council’s aims and objectives in our diversity and equality scheme.
  • Ensure that public money is not spent on practices which lead to unfair discrimination on sections of the Borough.
  • Create a diverse and integrated workforce not only in the Council but also in the wider community.
  • Improve the quality, responsiveness and appropriateness of our services
  • Deliver services that are responsive and flexible in supporting social inclusion and building stronger and cohesive communities and are well-governed, ethical, effective, efficient and economically viable.
  • Ensure a fair and open procurement process for all potential suppliers to the Authority

By ensuring that equality and diversity are integrated into the procurement process we are supporting the Council’s Diversity and Equality Scheme commitments to embed equality and diversity across everything we do.  

 

The Equalities & Diversity Scheme

Taking into account UK legislation the Council have taken the decision to produce a scheme which clearly addresses our duties and responsibilities in relation to:

  • Race
  • Gender
  • Disability
  • Sexual Orientation
  • Religion or Belief and
  • Age

This reflects our commitment to the wider equality agenda whilst ensuring that the strict duties that are placed upon us under the provisions of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act, Disability Discrimination Act and the Sex Discrimination Act (amended by the Equality Act). 

With increased partnership working and procurement of services, the Scheme also sets out the expectations placed on partners and suppliers to contribute to the Council’s equalities and diversity agenda.

 

What we will do to ensure suppliers of good, services and works to the Authority have appropriate equality and diversity polices in place

  • All contractors will be required to adhere to the Council’s financial regulations and standard terms and conditions which contain specific clauses on diversity and equality.
  • Contractors will be referred to the Council’s Diversity and Equality Scheme published on our web site and the Cabinet Office publication Equality Scheme.
  • Where appropriate suppliers will be required to demonstrate their compliance to the Council’s equality and diversity requirements either at a pre-qualification questionnaire or tender stage.
  • Where equality and or diversity are a fundamental requirement of a contract then substantial evidence of compliance will be required.
  • As part of the monitoring of successful contracts, contractors will be required to submit document evidence of compliance at each review session.
  • Tender specifications will be drafted to promote or enhance equality and diversity issues.