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Supported Factories and Businesses

Promoting the use of Supported Employment in Public Procurement

As part of its commitment to create a fair and equal society, Government is equally committed to ensuring that everyone has access to employment opportunities.  The Government's vision is that by 2025, disabled people in Britain should have the same opportunities and choices as non-disabled people to improve their quality of life and be respected and included as equal members of society.  This includes a commitment to enable greater access to employment opportunities for disabled people.

Supported factories and businesses have a valuable role in assisting people with disabilities to integrate into the labour market and helping to improve their overall independence and wellbeing.  It is for this reason that Government sponsors supported employment. 

With an annual spend of around £220 billion, public procurement also has an important role to play and should be used in a way that supports Government's commitment wherever practical.  It is Government policy that contracting authorities should aim to have at least one or more contracts with a supported factory or business.   

One way of achieving this is by using the provision set out in Article 19 of Public Sector Procurement Directive (Regulation 7 of the Public Contracts Regulation).  This provision allows contracting authorities to 'reserve' the right the participate in a public procurement exercise to supported factories and business (known as 'sheltered workshops' in the Directive) where most of the employees (50%) concerned are disabled persons who, by reason of the nature or seriousness of their disabilities, cannot carry on occupations under normal circumstances.

The Government's policy on supported employment and the use of Article 19 is set out in our policy statement.

Contracts can be reserved for contracts both above and below EU threshold.  The ability to reserve the right of participation to supported factories and businesses also applies to public contract procedures and framework agreements concluded by central purchasing bodies. 

To help public procurers, OGC has produced guidance on how to reserve contracts and achieve best value for money using the Article 19 provision. 

New Framework Agreement

Buying Solutions have put in place a pan Government collaborative framework agreement with supported businesses using the provision within Regulation 7 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 and Article 19 of the Public Sector Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC.  The framework is ready for use by UK public sector bodies, including (but not limited to) central Government departments and their agencies, non-departmental public bodies, NHS bodies and local authorities.

 The framework agreement covers products and services in the following lots:

  • ICT Disposal Services - Secure Disposal
  • ICT Disposal Services - Non-Secure Disposal
  • Furniture & Associated Products
  • Document Management

Public bodies are encouraged to make full use of this framework agreement when procuring these goods and services.  Using collaborative framework agreements can save procuring authorities time and money in their procurements and help to deliver improved value for money and efficiently.  Further details on this framework can be found here.

Supported factories and business offer a range of goods and services to meet a variety of requirements across the public sector.  Details of some of the goods and services that can be provided by supported factories and businesses can be found on the On-line Supported Businesses Directory.


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If you are looking for a specific document or guidance on a specific topic you can use the search engine at the top of this page. For further information or guidance please contact the OGC Service Desk on 0845 0004999.

Related Resources:
British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) Website & On-line Directory

 

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