Supplier Social Value - Working with us to support our communities:
Thames Valley Police (TVP) uses the Pluggin Marketplace to facilitate and harness Social Value through its procurement activity; as tangible support which contributes to the delivery of positive impact within the communities we serve.
For potential suppliers, this page explains how social value can make additional public benefit alongside your contract:
- What Social Value means at TVP and our Social Value priorities
- How Social Value may be delivered and what “in-kind” support means
- How to make a Social Value pledge in TVP tenders.
All Social Value requirements are designed to be proportionate to the contract and relevant to the service being procured.
What Social Value means at Thames Valley Police:
Social Value is about using public contracts to deliver wider benefit to the public. It is not charity and it is not funding for core policing activity. At TVP, Social Value focuses on suppliers supporting our strategic objectives published within the Police & Crime Plan:
• community engagement and reassurance
• crime prevention and public safety
• accessibility and inclusion
• safe and welcoming police public-facing spaces
How Social Value may be delivered:
Depending on the nature, value and complexity of the tender, TVP may ask suppliers to deliver Social Value in one or more of the following ways:
- Direct, in-kind support to Thames Valley Police
- Indirect support through third-party charities or community organisations
- A combination of direct and indirect support
The preferred approach for each procurement will be clearly set out in the tender documents.
What “in-kind” support means:
An in-kind contribution means providing goods, services or support instead of a cash payment. Examples include:
purchasing and supplying items requested by TVP; providing equipment, materials or services; offering staff time or skills-based volunteering (where appropriate)
TVP will not ask suppliers to transfer money directly to the Force. Where direct in-kind support is requested, TVP will confirm requirements during the contract period, up to the value of the Social Value pledge.
1) Direct in-kind support to Thames Valley Police:
Direct support is used to enable police-led community engagement, prevention and reassurance activity. All direct in-kind support must be additional to core policing and must not support operational policing activity. Indicative examples (non-exhaustive) include:
Community engagement and open day support
- gazebos or temporary shelters
- seating, tables or signage
- materials and consumables used at engagement events
- light catering or refreshments for community participants
- materials for safety campaigns such as safer driving / drug awareness etc
- digitalisation support to support inclusivity for community engagement
Crime prevention and personal safety items (for the public)
- personal safety alarms
- bicycle locks
- property marking kits
- similar crime prevention products
Non-operational animal-related items (community engagement only)
- rugs or coats
- non-tactical harnesses or leads
- toys and treats used during public engagement activity
- Cooling/heating aids
2) Indirect support through approved charities and community organisations:
Where appropriate, Social Value may be delivered indirectly as support (money, in-kind or volunteering) to third-party organisations aligned to our Police & Crime Plan objectives (crime reduction, victim support, safeguarding and rehabilitation, etc.). Approved provisions for social value consideration are listed on the Thames Valley area of the Pluggin Marketplace and are aligned to and directly support the Police & Crime Plan objectives:
- homelessness prevention
- domestic abuse and sexual violence support services
- victim support
- youth diversion and mentoring
- rehabilitation and resettlement services for offenders
- community safety partnerships
- support for vulnerable or at-risk individuals
3) Direct, indirect or combined support:
TVP recognises that different contracts are suited to different approaches. The approach taken will always reflect the proportionality of the tender and the type of service being procured. As a result:
- some tenders may prioritise direct in-kind support to TVP
- some may prioritise indirect support through relevant charities
- some may allow or encourage
- a combination of both
Note: To ensure compliance and fairness, Social Value cannot be used to support:
TVP staffing, training or apprenticeships; TVP operational policing equipment or vehicles; routine TVP staff welfare or operational provision; generic charity donations with no link to the Pluggin Marketplace and Thames Valley Police & Crime Plan objectives.
How to make a Social Value pledge in TVP tenders:
As part of a tender, potential suppliers are asked to: confirm the value of their Social Value commitment; explain whether this will be delivered directly, indirectly, or through a combination of both; and describe how delivery will be managed, evidenced and reported.
Previously, suppliers have not been required to specify exact in-kind social value at tender stage. Now, using this process, TVP is evaluating specific and targets social value propositions, which are being targeted to support the delivery of tangible community benefit.
The Social Proposal Order (SPO)
The SPO is a digital functionality built-into the Pluggin Marketplace which enables suppliers to Find, Engage-with, Discuss and Agree a level of social value contribution to support with a community provider should a contract be awarded with TVP; raised as part of the tender bid and submitted by a potential supplier.
This is a digital proposal outline PDF, giving TVP bid evaluators very specific information and references to score against using the Pluggin Marketplace.
ONLY WHEN THE CONTRACT IS AWARDED, does TVP formalise the SPO as part of the supply contract. It becomes a deliverable and auditable social value agreement for ongoing TVP and supplier review.
Why TVP takes this approach:
• It keeps Social Value proportionate and relevant
• It tangibly supports crime reduction and community safety
• It avoids replacing core policing activity
• It ensures social value transparency and auditability
• It delivers meaningful Social Return on Investment benefit to the public
If you have questions about Social Value or how it applies to a specific procurement, these can be raised through the clarification process set out in the tender documents.
*On occasion TVP tender on behalf of other police forces, if the SV area falls outside of the Thames Valley region this will be clearly identified within the tender documentation.