This is the latest consultation, with a very short timescale for responses - 21
January. I hope those with an interest in accessibility standards in public
procurement have time to respond in some way.

Festive greetings
Ruth

-----Original Message-----
From: Nutt, Kate [mailto:Kate.Nutt@...]
Sent: 21 December 2004 09:39
Subject: OGC/Sustainable Procurement Group Joint Note
on Social Issues in Purchasing


Dear All

As you may be aware, the Office of Government Commerce, in conjunction with
the Sustainable Procurement Group, has been working to produce a guidance
note detailing the scope to incorporate social issues into public sector
procurement.

I attach a draft of this note and would welcome your views. I would ask,
however, that you take the following points into consideration:

* The guidance is intended for use by public sector purchasers. Public
sector procurement must operate within a legal and policy framework that
lays down detailed rules about the ways in which issues of sustainability
can be incorporated into government purchasing. The structure and content of
the note must necessarily reflect these rules, and as such there is not
scope to make substantial changes to the main body of the text.

* It would not be possible to include every social issue in detail in
the note and it is not therefore meant to act as an exhaustive list of
social issues. It is intended more as a general guide for government
procurers. It is also worth remembering that in seeking to aid one social
issue, government departments must ensure they are not working to the
detriment of another. It is therefore up to individual government
departments to decide whether a particular social issue is relevant to a
procurement, and we have therefore tried to include the main points that
relate to each of the issues covered in the note in Annex A.

* We would particularly be grateful for comments on the following:
- Effective coverage of social issues.
- Sufficient clarity and volume in the use of examples.
- Sufficient links to other related guidance.
- Accuracy of wording on social issues.

* We be grateful for comment by the 21st January 2005. Feedback on the
note should be returned to me at kate.nutt@....

<<Social Note - draft 4.1.doc>>

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any queries regarding
this,

Many thanks and kind regards

Kate Nutt
______________________________
Kate Nutt
Procurement Policy Adviser
Office of Government Commerce
Trevelyan House
26-30 Great Peter Street
London
SW1P 2BY
020 7271 2771

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