8 October 2009 – Publication of DWP research report 600: Evaluation of the Race Equality Procurement Pilots
The Procurement Pilots are a new initiative introduced in 2006 to encourage procurers in the following three government departments/agencies – Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) and Identity and Passport Service (IPS) - to achieve better race equality outcomes when procuring services. The pilots introduced new diversity and equality requirements in contracts with suppliers, specifically to have a policy in place and monitor their employment of ethnic minorities.
- The key finding was that the requirement did not cause suppliers any major difficulties. The research found that there was considerable progress in DWP and a willingness in the three departments to adopt this way of procuring.
- DWP has put systems in place to monitor compliance with the requirements. This function is sub-contracted to an intermediate supplier. At DCSF, where there is a much more devolved procurement structure, systems for monitoring are not in place.
- Suppliers were aware of the requirements and did not appear to have any major difficulties in meeting them. The main impact on suppliers is that some of them have reviewed and updated their equal opportunities policies.
- Contract managers are responsible for ensuring suppliers are compliant with the requirements. The research found that Contract Managers have varying levels of knowledge of diversity issues, and although there is more progress to be made here, there has been a very positive start.
- Following from this pilot, DWP is introducing an equality requirement for the monitoring of ethnic minorities, disability, and sex into all its contracts.
Notes to editors:
The research was carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies.
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