MoLSA is a central government institution responsible for the social agenda (i.a. employment, labour conditions, social security system, child-care) in the Czech Republic. It’s seat is in the Capital – Prague.
MoLSA has been implementing SPP in their own practice since 2015 focusing on labour conditions of the respective workers, ethical sourcing, environmentally friendly products, supporting social enterprises through procurement etc. Since 2016, MoLSA has been running EU-funded projects to support development of SPP in the Czech Republic. Within those projects MoLSA has issued multiple guidance materials, promoted dozens of best practice examples, created platform for exchange of information on SPP, organized dozens of events (Conferences, Seminars, Webinars, Summer Schools etc.).
 | 1521 Employees |
 | 2022 Date joined |
First SPP policy has been adopted in 2016 (after several sustainable tenders were piloted). This material helped to raise awareness of SPP within the institution and later helped to spread the awareness even to other institutions which fall under MoLSA’s management (Social Security Service, Employment Office, etc.).
The principles of Sustainable Public Procurement Activities are defined in general terms. No specific figures or targets have been set.
Engagement is one of the core topics for MoLSA and for SPP for that matter. MoLSA has been supporting Supplier Engagement and practicing it as well. With MoLSA’s help, Meet-the-Buyer events were introduced to the Czech contracting authorities and several institutions started to organize those. MoLSA itself conducted dozens of supplier engagement events starting with meetings in person and developing on-line meetings lately (partly due to C-19 restrictions).
Only partial aspects of circular economy were used in catering procurement or office supplies, focusing mainly on packaging.
MoLSA is responsible for purchasing for other institutions as well (Labour Inspection Office, Employment Office, Social Security Administration). Environmental criteria were used for example in tenders for paper or electricity.
Central government institutions use national e-procurement system. Apart from that there are several commercial e-instruments, which are being used by other contracting authorities (such as municipalities, regions, universities, hospitals etc.).
Expressing the value of Sustainable Procurement practices and using figures to prove its effectiveness have been a challenge for not only MoLSA, but any contracting authority, for that matter. MoLSA tried to develop at least some monitoring instruments (inspired by British examples).
MoLSA is very much interested in promoting participation of not just SME’s (and more importantly SE’s) in procurement. The latter one is not limited to use reserved tenders only. Lacking legislation on SE’s represent an obstacle for further development of the topic, but the law is about to be submitted to the Parliament soon.
Proper management of contracts has been a challenge for not only MoLSA, but any contracting authority. MoLSA presents SPP as an opportunity for the contracting authority to focus more on quality contract administration/management, which, sadly, is lacking among Czech public institutions.
Keeping track of SPP has been a challenge for MoLSA (as well as any other contracting authorities) since the very beginning. Monitoring of SPP has been and remains based on qualitative evaluation rather than on exact figures.
Further information on projects and initiatives of MoLSA can be found here:
or email procurement@iclei.org
