The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) is a public body of the Scottish Government, whose role it is to make sure that the environment and human health are protected, to ensure that Scotland’s natural resources and services are used as sustainably as possible and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
SEPA 1300 employees are based across Scotland, from where they regulate and advise on a wide range of environmental activities. Part of its tasks is to assess the quality of the environment by monitoring air, land and water. SEPA uses their findings to advise government, industry and the public on environmental best practice.
As an organisation with a strong environmental mission, SEPA wants to promote sustainability through its own activities, which is why it puts an emphasis on effective sustainable public procurement.
SEPA has set an ambitious target to be a “Regenerative Organisation” by 2030. This means going beyond net zero greenhouse gas emissions, waste, materials and water.
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42% CO2 saved since 2006 |
 | 2019 Date joined |
SEPAs goal is to protect and improve the environment, in ways that, as far as possible also help create health and wellbeing benefits and sustainable economic growth. SEPA’s procurement strategy is geared towards supporting this goal and underpins the delivery of SEPA’s key strategies.
Therefore, SEPA’s procurement activities are undertaken following the organisational characteristics:
The Scottish Government has announced the objective of mobilising the £11bn of public sector procurement spend to support tackling the climate emergency. SEPA represent non-departmental public bodies on the Scottish Government Procurement and Climate Change Forum.
SEPA is also looking to build capacity internally to implement SPP more broadly.
SUPPLIER ENGAGEMENT AND JOINT PROCUREMENTSEPA uses various forms of supplier engagement for major procurement projects including Market Information Questionnaires & Supplier Information Days.
SEPA works with public bodies across Scotland to drive best value in procurement. Significant work is currently underway with public bodies in the north of Scotland to encourage competition in key markets.
ENCOURAGING SMEs AND INNOVATIONSEPA is a member of the Scottish Supplier Development Programme and actively encourages SMEs to tender for contract opportunities.
SEPA also uses public procurement of innovation and pre-commercial procurement to purchase some of the specialised equipment needed for conducting measurements and for purchasing other equipment.
SEPA's SPP work focuses on a couple of key sectors:
For further information on the activities of SEPA visit their website:
or email procurement@iclei.org
