Construction industry members will be giving input to the City of Winnipeg’s proposed social procurement framework and action plan at a consultation session set for January 9.
Representatives from the city’s administration and from its external consultant, Buy Social Canada, will review the policy and framework and the proposed action plan tools by which it hopes to implement social procurement, over the next three years. The January 9 session will include industry members from both Manitoba Heavy Construction Association and Winnipeg Construction Association.
The social procurement policy intends to spread the benefits of the city’s $400-million+ annual buying power to equity groups – Indigenous, newcomer, people of colour and LGTBQ2S+ – through its purchases of supply and services.
“We are keen to have our industry representatives hear directly from the administration on how the social procurement action plan and its tools will be rolled out, and how they will effect tenders for construction services,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc said.
The documents regarding the social procurement framework and action plan can be reviewed here.
As well, the City and Buy Social will be reviewing the elements of the tender for services for the city’s North End Water Pollution Control Centre biosolids facility. The tender will include social procurement bidding requirements, and will act as a model for community benefits agreements in future construction tenders under the social procurement action plan.