Procurement Policy Note 06/20 – taking account of social value in the award of central government contracts · first published 24 September 2020
PPN 06/20 introduces the Social Value Model, which requires central government organisations to assess the wider social, economic and environmental benefits a supplier can deliver — not just price and quality. This replaces previous, less structured approaches to social value. For small businesses bidding on central government contracts, this means social value commitments (such as local hiring, apprenticeships, or net-zero pledges) will now be formally scored, not just noted. The full mechanics — exact weightings, criteria and thresholds — are set out in the attached Social Value Model PDF, which was not available for full parsing. The policy applies to central government; wider public-sector bodies are encouraged but not mandated to follow it.
WHO THIS APPLIES TO
THE ENKII VIEW
For SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), the Social Value Model is a genuine leveller: larger primes don't automatically win on social value, and a locally embedded small firm can score strongly on community and employment outcomes. The risk is being caught unprepared — if you don't have a ready narrative around your social impact, you'll lose marks that are now a formal part of the award decision. Start building your evidence base now, because buyers will ask for it on every central government bid.
1. Download and read the Social Value Model PDF (attached to PPN 06/20 on GOV.UK) to understand the exact policy themes, outcomes and scoring criteria buyers must use — then map your business activities against them before your next bid.
All SMEs bidding for central government contracts — The PPN states that buyers must use the Social Value Model; knowing its criteria in advance lets you prepare evidence rather than improvise at tender stage.
2. Build a 'social value evidence file': document local jobs created, apprenticeships, supply-chain diversity, carbon-reduction initiatives, and community benefits you already deliver — with dates and numbers.
All SMEs bidding for central government contracts — Social value is now a formally scored award criterion under the model; buyers will ask for specific, evidenced commitments, not vague statements.
3. When writing tender responses, align your social value commitments explicitly to the government priority outcomes listed in the Social Value Model, using the same language buyers will be scoring against.
All SMEs bidding for central government contracts — The PPN requires buyers to use 'policy outcomes aligned with this government's priorities' — mirroring that language signals you understand the framework and makes scoring easier for evaluators.
Every rule below quotes the official document verbatim.
Central government organisations must use the Social Value Model to take account of additional social benefits achievable through contract delivery, aligned to government policy outcomes. (Central government organisations, all contracts in scope of this PPN.)
“Central government organisations should use this model to take account of the additional social benefits that can be achieved in the delivery of its contracts, using policy outcomes aligned with this government's priorities.”
The PPN launches a new model — the Social Value Model — to deliver social value through government's commercial activities. (Central government commercial/procurement activity.)
“This Procurement Policy Note (PPN) launches a new model to deliver social value through government's commercial activities.”
This briefing is enkii's interpretation of the official document — the official text always governs.
Source document © Crown copyright, reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0 via the GOV.UK Content API. enkii tracks every Procurement Policy Note and briefs changes the day they land — see all briefings.