Sustainability in construction contracts: How to win tenders by being a socially responsible supplier
Sustainable construction is incredibly important to local and national governments. Global targets have been set for every nation to reduce its carbon emissions. To win government construction tenders, you need to be an environmentally and socially responsible supplier that can prove its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and green targets.
State your sustainability provisions early
When local and central governments publish tenders, they expect to receive bids that put ecological sustainability and social responsibility front and centre. The government has set sustainability goals for the country in line with international agreements and accords, such as those agreed upon at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). Every business that submits bids should include information on how they will reduce their carbon emissions, implement environmentally friendly business practices, and operate in a socially responsible manner when supplying the government.
Tenders are published all the time. You can find the latest tenders with Supply2Gov which provides the most up to date information on B2G tenders (Business-to-Government tenders). They help businesses to grow by using their database to uncover contracts and procurement opportunities in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Identifying a tender to submit a bid for is the first step toward winning a government contract. Your bid should make your sustainability and social responsibility provisions clear from the outset to increase your chances of being successful.
Plan for sustainability and include local stakeholders
In construction, there are a lot of stakeholders. The area that you will be building in may have a lot of residents nearby or be an area that many commuters pass through every day. Your bid needs to contain provisions for these stakeholders and outline how you will engage with the local community throughout the project. The local population will have their own concerns on sustainability, inclusion, and social responsibility as well as safety.
When you are outlining your bid, take extra time to consider the area your will be working in and do some research into the local population and the resources they have that may be impacted by a building site or construction traffic on the road. Form plans to mitigate any disruption and identify local people or organisations that you can build relationships with and consult for input as the project progresses. Having these plans in place and outlined in your bid will greatly increase your chances of success, as these are exactly the type of sustainability and socially responsible provisions that governments are looking for.
Building sustainably for a greener future
The biggest challenge facing many construction firms, whether they are working within the government procurement process or not, is building sustainably. Construction requires a lot of energy, both on-site and from its suppliers. Transporting materials can be incredibly carbon intense due to the weight and volume of construction materials and supplies. If you want your bid to be successful, you should outline methods you will use to offset the carbon emitted as a part of your construction process.
If possible, include examples of sustainability and carbon offsetting from previous projects you have completed. ‘Net Zero’ is one of the biggest sustainability targets for governments across the world and is a centrepiece of global environmental agreements. Governments are looking for businesses that are willing to invest in efforts to offset the carbon they emit and ensure their projects balance their carbon production with green initiatives. In order to maintain the development of our communities and keep building the modern world construction companies need to incorporate sustainable practices in all their projects to achieve our collective environmental goals.
Socially responsible construction
Reducing the impact a construction project has on a local community is becoming an increasingly important element of the government procurement process. Part of your bid for the tender should include the steps you will be taking to engage with the local community and its leaders to ensure the project is completed with their concerns in mind, and with a focus on social responsibility. If there is a school near the construction site, for example, you should have plans to engage with the teachers and students to integrate their concerns and demands with the progress of the project.
When you undertake a government contract, your business becomes a representative or ambassador of the government, and its constituents are the most important stakeholders in the project. Their taxes fund the project so they must be a part of the process. If the local community feels that its needs are not being met or that your company is overlooking their concerns, it will negatively affect your chance of winning procurement contracts in the future.
If you are considering competing for government construction contracts, you need to invest in sustainability and social responsibility to have a chance of success. Ensure you are taking the local community into consideration when you are forming your bid for the tender, and demonstrate your continuing commitment to environmental sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.
