What is social value in procurement?
Social value in procurement means the wider economic, social and environmental benefits that public spending can secure, beyond the goods or services being bought. It covers things like local jobs and skills, support for small businesses, community wellbeing and reduced carbon. It is underpinned by the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and is often assessed using a social value model or the TOMs framework.
Social value in procurement, explained
Social value is the additional benefit to society, the economy and the environment that a public body can secure through how it spends money, over and above the direct output of a contract. When buying a service, an authority can also seek outcomes such as creating local employment and apprenticeships, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary organisations, improving community wellbeing, and cutting environmental impact. The idea is to make each pound of public spending work harder for people and places.
In England, the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 requires public bodies to consider how the services they commission and procure might improve economic, social and environmental wellbeing. Government guidance has since strengthened this, with policy requiring social value to be explicitly evaluated, not just considered, in relevant central government procurements, so it carries real weight in award decisions rather than being an afterthought.
To assess social value consistently, buyers commonly use structured frameworks. The government's social value model sets out themes, outcomes and measures for evaluating bids, and the TOMs (Themes, Outcomes and Measures) framework is a widely used approach for defining and measuring social value commitments. These frameworks let buyers score bidders' social value proposals as part of a wider quality and price evaluation, and then hold suppliers to what they promised during the contract.
Key things to know
Wider benefits of spending
Social value is the economic, social and environmental benefit secured beyond the goods or services bought.
Backed by the Social Value Act
The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 requires public bodies to consider wellbeing in relevant procurements.
Now evaluated, not just considered
Government policy requires social value to be explicitly evaluated in relevant central government procurements.
The social value model
The government's social value model provides themes, outcomes and measures for scoring bids.
The TOMs framework
Themes, Outcomes and Measures is a widely used framework for defining and measuring social value.
Held to account in delivery
Social value commitments made in a bid can be monitored and enforced during the contract.
Explore: What is MEAT criteria?, What is a tender?, Social value software, For buyers: social value.
How eSourcingData helps
eSourcingData helps buyers set, score and track social value as a genuine part of the award decision.
Score social value
Include social value criteria in your evaluation and score them consistently across bids.
Use recognised frameworks
Align your questions and measures with the social value model or TOMs approach.
Track commitments
Record what suppliers promised so you can monitor delivery through the contract.
Hands-on support
Our team helps you set proportionate, meaningful social value criteria for your requirement.
FAQs
What is social value in procurement?
Social value in procurement means the wider economic, social and environmental benefits secured through public spending, beyond the goods or services being bought, such as local jobs and skills, support for small businesses, community wellbeing and reduced carbon. It is underpinned by the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and often assessed using a social value model or the TOMs framework.
What is the Social Value Act 2012?
The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 requires public bodies in England to consider how the services they commission and procure might improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the area.
What is the TOMs framework?
TOMs stands for Themes, Outcomes and Measures. It is a widely used framework that helps buyers and suppliers define, quantify and measure social value commitments consistently.
What is the social value model?
The government's social value model sets out themes, outcomes and measures for evaluating social value in bids, so it can be scored as part of a wider quality and price evaluation.
How is social value evaluated in a tender?
Buyers set social value criteria, often based on the social value model or TOMs, give them a weighting, and score bidders' proposals alongside other quality and price criteria, then hold suppliers to their commitments during the contract.
Make social value count
See how eSourcingData helps UK buyers set, score and track social value under PA23. Book a demo or request a pilot.