Transport Scotland - social value management queries: FOI release

Information requested

Please could you inform me if you have a person responsible for managing social value?
If you do, who are they?
If you do not, who is managing your social value?
Please could you inform me if you are using a social value platform?
If you are using a platform, which platform are you using, and when does the current contract come to an end?
If you are not, how are you managing your social value?

Response

As Transport Scotland procures under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Act 2014 (the Act), we apply the sustainable procurement duty and community benefits requirements of the Act to our procurement activity, in addition to the Statutory Guidance and other Scottish Government procurement policy which would fall within the concept of social value. Use of the term “social value” within Transport Scotland is not a reference to the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 or UK government procurement policy requirements.

The answers to your questions are:

Please could you inform me if you have a person responsible for managing social value?
Across Transport Scotland, community benefits are managed by contract managers as it is a core aspect of contract delivery. However, in terms of the A9 Dualling Programme, Transport Scotland has one staff member who is dedicated to managing community benefits for the programme.

If you do, who are they?
The specific role for management of community benefits on the A9 Dualling Programme is the A9 Dualling Programme Social Value Lead.

If you do not, who is managing your social value?
For all other contracts, community benefit delivery is managed by contract managers.

Please could you inform me if you are using a social value platform?
No, Transport Scotland does not use a social value platform.

If you are using a platform, which platform are you using, and when does the current contract come to an end?
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Transport Scotland does not have the information you have requested because we do not use a social value platform. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

If you are not, how are you managing your social value?
Delivery of community benefits is managed as a core aspect of contract delivery, in line with the terms of individual contracts. Suppliers are required to report on community benefits, and the contract manager is responsible for ensuring that contract requirements are delivered. Data is collated annually by the procurement team for inclusion Transport Scotland’s Annual Procurement Report which is published on the Transport Scotland website.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.