Public sector needs for available products and services create business opportunities
The obligation of public sector organisations to set requirements on accessibility in public procurements may sometimes lead to challenges. There are not always accessible services or products to procure. This will in turn create opportunities for more companies to propose or develop new and innovative solutions.
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Offer accessible products and services
If there are no accessible products and services on the market, procuring organisations may have to express their needs in terms of desired features, effects and results.
This creates opportunities for companies to develop innovative solutions and new products. This way, public procurement contributes to innovation in our society.
It may be difficult for procuring organisations to be aware of all the products and services available on the market, or the ones in development. For this reason, suppliers should strive to keep themselves informed about their industry. Look into how the public sector purchases the products or services that your company sells, or is planning to develop. Procuring organisations are interested in promoting competition in public procurements. For this reason, it is not unusual for them to send invitations to information meetings where they present planned procurements. If no information meetings have been scheduled, you can, as a supplier, convey your interest in having the procuring organisation issue an invitation to such a meeting.
Market your products or services. But respect the fact that contracting authorities and parties are prohibited from favouring one supplier over another. Clearly describe how your offer is better than those of your competitors. Do you have an innovative solution – briefly describe it.
Greater opportunities for skills development
Many people have difficulty finding a job. At the same time, many companies are in need of manpower. Setting employment requirements in public procurement may result in people with difficulties entering the labour market gaining employment. At the same time, companies obtain new resources that help them grow and achieve their full potential. This benefits society as a whole, as money is saved when people go from unemployment to employment, and tax revenue increases.
Employment requirements mean that the contracted supplier(s) in a procurement will offer employment or traineeship to one or more people who have difficulty entering the labour market, such as people with disabilities.
Procurement reserved for certain suppliers
Another method for creating opportunities for people with disabilities is reserved procurement. This involves a procuring organisation reserving participation in a procurement for certain suppliers.
In a reserved procurement certain suppliers, who would otherwise have difficulty competing for a contract, are subjected to positive discrimination. It concerns suppliers whose primary aim is the social and professional integration of people with disabilities, who find it difficult to gain access to the labour market.
One condition for a supplier to be able to participate in a reserved procurement is that no less than 30 of the employees in the sheltered workshop, supplier organisation or programme for sheltered employment are disabled or have difficulty entering the job market. The purpose is to support the integration of people with disabilities or other people who have difficulty entering the labour market.