Integrating Responsible Business Conduct in Public Procurement

Czech Republic

1. Policy

The Czech Republic uses three main frameworks: the European Union Directive on Public Procurement, the Czech Public Procurement Act and the Government Resolution on Responsible Public Procurement 531/2017 that include the following RBC objectives:

Environment

Labour rights

People with disabilities

Long-term unemployed people

Integrity

Strategic frameworks

• The Government of the Czech Republic adopted a resolution № 531 dated 24 July 2017, which regroups the Guidelines for the Application of Responsible Public Procurement and Commissioning Applied by the Public Administration and Local Authorities.

2. Implementation

Tender phase

• In some product categories, such as office paper and cleaning products, environmental certification or requirements must be added to the award or qualification criteria.

3. Good Practices

• To extend the scope of Resolution №. 465 (2010), which only addressed environmental application in public procurement procedures, the Ministry of Environment joined with the Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs to develop a new resolution (№ 531) that broadened both the environmental scope and added social and integrity aspects. The outcomes and benefits of this Resolution are evaluated every two years.

• The Government of the Czech Republic developed and implemented training and workshops about sustainable considerations in public purchasing, involving effectiveness, efficiency and the economy of purchases.