Sustainability

Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) and the Centres of Procurement Expertise (CoPEs) have a key role to play in the drive towards sustainable development by assisting the Northern Ireland Public Sector to embed sustainable development considerations into its spending and investment decisions.

To set this in context, public sector procurement expenditure by Northern Ireland Departments, their Agencies, NDPBs and Public Corporations, accounted for approximately £1.9 billion of supplies, services and construction works in 2006 – 2007 and £1.8 billion in 2005 – 2006.

Public sector spend is expected to rise significantly in the coming years under the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (available here), which sets out a framework to deliver around £6bn over the period 2008 - 2011 and an overall total approaching £20bn in the period 2008 - 2018.

The leverage provided by this volume of spend provides significant opportunities to help deliver the Executive’s overarching aim, set out in the Programme for Government 2008 – 2011(available here), of building a peaceful, fair and prosperous society in Northern Ireland, with respect for the rule of law and where everyone can enjoy a better quality of life now and in years to come.

The Programme for Government 2008 - 2011  and Investment Strategy 2008 - 2018  reinforce the importance of achieving sustainable outcomes.  They also provide the high-level context in which contracting authorities can identify specific sustainable goals to achieve from each procurement.  In terms of the Programme for Government,  Public Service Agreement (PSA) 11 (driving investment and sustainable development) and 21 (enabling efficient government) are of particular relevance to sustainable development.

Making the Northern Ireland Public Sector a UK regional leader in sustainable procurement is one of the objectives of the Sustainable Development Strategy for Northern Ireland. more

Guidance and links to useful websites can be found here. more

Email us at procure.policy with examples of how you have incorporated Economic, Social and Environmental objectives into your contracts.