University approach to responsible purchasing

We take into account the related social, economic and environmental aspects when awarding public contracts. We take care to maintain the principles of responsible cooperation with the private sector, setting specific conditions including climate and ethical criteria.

We are a full member of the Socially Responsible and Strategic Procurement Project at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Since 2017, we have started to implement the Best Value Approach (BVA) method, adapted to the conditions of Czech legislation under the designation BVA/m4E. We have already verified its applicability and suitability for the selection of a quality supplier in several selection and procurement procedures (security, cleaning, construction work, design services, website, provision of stands for trade fairs and exhibitions, etc.). We try to simplify the terms and conditions of public contracts as much as possible to make it as easy as possible for suppliers to access them and for small and medium-sized enterprises to have access to the contracts. The University's commitment to a responsible approach is also printed in the University's Strategic Plan 2021+.

Sustainability aspects of selection and procurement procedures

Aspects of selection or procurement procedures in relation to responsibility (environmental, social, innovation) include:

• Form-based tenders, brief tender documentation, minimum qualification requirements for suppliers, seeking to use more qualitative evaluation criteria (where appropriate)
• Standardisation of contracts (e.g. FIDIC Green Book for civil works), emphasis on fair contract terms in general
• Use of the BVA method for appropriate contracts
• Seeking to incorporate social and environmental aspects into the terms of reference where appropriate and proportionate to the type of contract (e.g. waste collection, cleaning, construction works or promotional items and purchase of computer equipment, ICT) and relevant to the University as an educational and research institution (e.g. participation of engineering students in some contracts - construction contracts, design services)
• Preliminary market consultations for major contracts, in particular those implemented by the BVA method

Involvement in organisations and publications

In relation to public procurement, the BUT is involved in these organisations or publishes in professional periodicals:

• Platform for Socially Responsible Public Procurement - participation in working groups
• Institute of Responsible Public Procurement (development and revision of responsible procurement methodologies in various areas - cleaning, construction, security, food, etc., membership in working groups, 4-part seminar on the BVA/m4E method and its practical application)
• Public Procurement Association - participation in working groups
• University Staff Association (APUA) – Procurement department (regular meetings to share good practise)
• Public Procurement in Practice, a professional journal - publishing activities
• Journal of Public Procurement in Practice - Publications
• Regular participation in seminars or conferences focused, inter alia, on the issue of responsible public procurementPru

Thanks to these activities, BUT has been awarded the 2021 award of the Responsible Public Procurement Platform for its contribution to the development of responsible public procurement in the Czech Republic. BUT has become one of the leaders in the field of responsible public procurement and its representatives from the Investment Department and the Public Procurement Department are invited as trainers for the Office for the Protection of Competition, to the advisory bodies of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, etc.