PUBLIC PROCUREMENT NEWS

  

News

25 April 2019

Market Engagement: City of Haarlem pioneers socially responsible ICT hardware

Public procurers meet suppliers and resellers in a dedicated space to discuss an upcoming tender that is ambitious with regards to sustainability criteria. This simple idea of market engagement takes place as a series as part of the Make ICT Fair project. More specifically, the Meet the Buyer format brings together public procurers and suppliers in the field of ICT to discuss upcoming tenders of the pilot authorities that aim to pioneer social responsibility and transparency in supply chains. 

At the recent event in Haarlem, Netherlands, the municipality presented details on a future workplace hardware tender and the respective criteria focussing on social responsibility. In addition, Electronics Watch gave introduction on what is means and how to achieve more transparency and improve worker’s rights across a supply chain. The exchange was stimulated by pitch slams of suppliers such as CHG Meridian, HP and Closing the Loop focussing on their first response to the presented tender format. In addition, the event offered room for discussion in a world café format. Different public authorities were then able to connect to the attending resellers/suppliers. 

Key take aways from the event are that there is significant interest from both procurers and supplier/reseller perspective to advance the social responsibility of ICT products and services. Also, the discussion evolved around applying circularity as the service model to the supply-chain of ICT. 


Looking ahead, Gemeente Haarlem will publish the tender soon and thus add to the pioneers of procuring socially responsible ICT hardware. Learn more about ICLEI's work in the Make ICT Fair project here