Inclusive Procurement
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Why inclusive procurement?: Disability inclusive procurement is important and can have transformational effects for persons with disabilities. Accessible procurement ensures that persons with disabilities have equal access to goods, facilities, equipment, technology, and services.
What is disability inclusive procurement? Disability-inclusive procurement is a process of purchasing goods and services that are accessible to people with disabilities. It involves the integration of accessibility requirements into the procurement process.
Requirements: Inclusive procurement requires setting accessibility or universal design standards in procurement policies for various products purchased by the UN locally.
8.1 procurement policies consider accessibility and do not create new barriers for persons with disabilities
8.2 the procurement process is accessible to everyone including persons with disabilities
8.3 Accessibility targets for procurement are set and met
8.4 the entities procurement policy promotes purchasing from disability-inclusive suppliers
To meet requirements, these actions are needed:
Should establish minimum accessibility requirements for conferences, meetings, and events held outside of UN premises. These requirements should consider international good practice and local conditions.
OMT procurement WG to include the set of accessibility standards as an additional eligibility criterion in the periodic DSS security assessment of external venues, resulting in compiling initial list of accessible external venues verified as meeting the accessibility standards.
Distributing this list to all UNCT members for their use.
To exceed requirement, these actions can be taken:
distribute the accessibility guidelines widely to venues and vendors;
explain to vendors accessibility standards;
provide incentives for their investments to meet accessibility standards; and
provide technical support to vendors on how they could take concrete steps towards applying the accessibility standards.
Means of verification for annual reporting of UNCT includes:
Accessibility guidelines approved by HoAs for use by OMT
Accessibility clauses in LTAs
Copies of the accessibility guidelines distributed to providers of products, venues and other services.
Recommended practices and action plans for inclusive procurements are:
Embed accessibility testing for procurement websites and platforms, contracting documents, providing alternative means to submit bids for suppliers with disabilities.
To ensure accessibility in RFPs, include clear and specific accessibility requirement that venders should comply with (With UN policy, WCAG2.1. should be considered for bidding). Request vendors’ experience proven with third-party accessibility audit reports or certificates.
Request VPATS (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates)
Create a database of local diverse suppliers owned by persons with disabilities or those which have a majority of employees with disabilities.
Give priorities to purchasing services provided by OPDs.
Create a database of local diverse suppliers from either business owned by persons with disabilities or those which have a majority of employees with disabilities.
Organize capacity building programs (mentorship) for businesses owned by persons with disabilities.
Country cases from Algeria, Iran, Philippines, Singapore, and Costa Rica were presented. These include assessment of inclusive procurement practices with OPDs, establishment of guidelines which were shared with IPs, and implementing accessibility guidelines or checklist in procurement.
When there are best practices and suppliers identified, please share with each other.
,, and Indicator on Procurement: UNCT and individual entities should at least “meet requirements” on a 5-point grading scale for indicators, which is reported annually:
Different types of assistive technologies (Screen reader, OCR software, Braille devices and printers, portable magnifier, assistive listening devices, hearing systems, portable ramps, and other assistive devices) and potential local suppliers’ contacts were presented. For detail, please check the.