The Leibniz Competence Centre for Procurement (LKCB), based at the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories, has placed two innovative framework agreements for IT technology and used equipment disposal – with a clear focus on social responsibility and inclusion.
In a procurement process that is unique in Germany, the Leibniz Competence Centre for Procurement (LKCB), based at the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi), has initiated two new framework agreements for the cross-manufacturer supply of IT technology and the disposal of old equipment worth over €32 million. Unlike traditional tenders, this time the focus was not only on economic efficiency and functionality, but also explicitly on social and environmental responsibility. The tender was based on Section 118 of the German Act against Restraints of Competition (GWB) – a legal provision that allows public authorities to restrict tenders specifically to social enterprises such as work centres for people with disabilities and inclusive companies in order to compensate for the competitive disadvantage of these companies on the market.
More than just technical purchasing
The contract placement was preceded by 14 months of intensive preparation, including comprehensive market research, numerous technical discussions and careful development of the tender documents. At the end of this process, two successful contracts were signed: alsterarbeit gGmbH, a recognised workshop for people with disabilities in Hamburg, will take over the supply of IT technology in future. The AfB Group, Europe's largest non-profit IT refurbishment company with a special focus on inclusion and resource sustainability, will be responsible for the data protection-compliant disposal of old equipment.
Contribution to inclusion and social added value
With the new framework agreements, a total of 83 institutions in the Leibniz Association, universities and a Helmholtz Centre will benefit not only from professional technical support. At the same time, the conscious involvement of social institutions will make an active contribution to inclusion and professional participation, for example by specifically integrating people with disabilities into the primary labour market. The project demonstrates the potential of strategic public procurement, especially when social goals are taken into account.
"I never thought that a procurement process would move me so much. But this was about more than just a legally and technically flawless procurement procedure – it was about using public procurement to make a positive impact. The fact that, as the Leibniz Association, we are strengthening social enterprises with this public tender while at the same time reliably supplying 83 research institutions makes me proud and is a success that is thanks to a dedicated team of colleagues from the LKCB and the participating institutes," says Thomas Saueracker, Head of Finance/Controlling/Procurement at LIfBi and Project Manager of the LKCB.
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