Social procurement framework laid over for further work: EPC
Winnipeg Council’s Executive Policy Committee decided December 8 to lay over an administration report recommending the adoption of a social procurement framework, after hearing from a consensus of community and industry groups that the framework was not fully complete.
“We are supportive of the development and implementation of an informed, fair, effective social procurement framework for the City of Winnipeg,” Michael Barkman, of CCEDNet, told the EPC.
“There are still large gaps that leave many questions and uncertainty about implementation” of the social procurement framework, Barkman said.
The delegation Barkman represented before EPC included a mix of social enterprise and industry groups, including Manitoba Building Trades, MHCA, Winnipeg Construction Association and Mother Earth Recycling. All are members of the Social Procurement Working Group established by the City to advise on the development of a framework and an action plan, to implement social procurement elements in Winnipeg’s $400-million procurement of goods and services.
EPC was asked by administration to formally adopt the framework. The consensus group asked EPC, instead, to receive the framework as information allowing for further work on it, to be assisted by a subject matter expert in social procurement.
One suggestion to EPC was that a third-party consultant, such as Buy Social Canada, be hired to lead the working group through the framework and action plan development.
“There has not been a municipality, to our knowledge, that has not used the services of a third-party, subject matter expert,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc said.
“The collective wisdom and practice of municipalities across the country is to resource the process with a subject matter expert.”
EPC, led by Mayor Brian Bowman, opted instead to lay over the consideration of the framework, instructing administration to consult with the working group further on its concerns regarding the document and the process toward an action plan.
Bowman said the 30 days would allow for greater clarity for administration, the working group and city councillors on the outstanding concerns and gaps that are seen within the framework.
For further information see the Winnipeg Free Press story on the EPC meeting.
