Schools have an on-going requirement for Timber Materials for use in Technology and Design suites in post primary schools. Various types of timber including Softwood, Hardwood, Sheets, Dowels, Shelving and Flooring materials are required by schools to support the teaching of the Technology curriculum, up to and including A Level.
In order to support this requirement in our schools, a framework for the provision of Timber Materials was awarded in October 2023 using the open tender procedure. The Framework will operate for a period of four years, covering an estimated value of £800,000.
There are a number of market forces that impact supply of these products including world political unrest, ethical supply and shortage of materials impacting security of supply, resulting in volatile pricing and suppliers’ ability to meet client demand.
The tender process was initiated by EA Commercial Procurement Service in order to establish a Framework of suppliers who could ensure continuity of supply of timber materials for our schools. During the preparation and pre-market engagement stage of the tender process, recent volatility in pricing and supply chain issues in relation to the Covid Pandemic and Russian import sanctions were recognised. In addition, long standing global risks around the illegal harvesting of timber and its effect on wildlife, people and the climate shaped our procurement strategy.
Ensuring ethical sourcing was central to our procurement strategy and demonstrated our compliance with PPN 03/21 Supply Chain Resilience and PPN 05/21 Human Rights and Modern Slavery, in addition to contributing to EA’s Corporate Objectives, ensuring that ‘resources are used in a sustainable way’.
In order to ensure that all timber products purchased in EA schools are ethically sourced, at the tender stage bidders were required to provide assurances regarding the proof of origin of the timber they would be supplying to schools. These assurances are given through the provision of evidence that the timber they supply is independently verifiable from a FLEGT (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance Trade) licensed source or equivalent. In addition to the provision of certification, further guarantees from bidders around supply chain resilience were given. Bidders were required to identify multiple tiers within their supply chains and have an organisational action plan with full traceability in place, in the event of supply chain disruption.
Whilst the tender process itself gives EA confidence in relation to delivering value for money and meeting our clients’ requirements, it must be acknowledged that in regard to continued verification of proof of origin of the timber, this only provides a picture at a point in time.
Therefore, upon award, further requirements to provide information on the suppliers own internal audit checks were requested alongside certification in the form of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification and/or PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). In addition, suppliers are encouraged to shorten their supply chains and source locally where possible.
Given the nature of the global timber market, it is also important that during the framework the EA receives assurances with suppliers providing at a minimum, annual assurances regarding their supply chains.
Given the well-known global risks around the illegal harvesting of timber, establishing this Framework allows our schools to buy confidently from suppliers with strict ethical supply chains. The Framework supports the EA in delivering its corporate and social responsibilities, supporting our children and young people through their educational journey, whilst doing our utmost to preserve and protect the global environment for them and future generations.