Highlighting Social Value...

There has been a lot of comment on the introduction of the controversial section 75 regulations (the The National Health Service (Procurement Patient Choice and Competition) (No.2) Regulations 2013) including in this blog. However CCGs should not forget that they also have obligations under the Social Value Act (the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012). The Social Value Act requires CCGs to consider how their commissioning could improve the economic social and environmental well-being of their area. In effect the Act gives CCGs a legal basis on which to give more weight to bids from local and/or not-for-profit service providers (for example NHS or charity organisations). On the other hand potential providers should enhance their bids by emphasising the economic social and environmental benefits that they will bring to the CCG's area.