Supplier evaluation is performed on the basis of eligibility requirements imposed on tenderers in the invitation to tender in a procurement process.
Eligibility requirements may be imposed on tenderers to ensure that they are qualified to deliver on the procurement and that they have complied with their societal obligations (taxes, social security contributions, pension contributions, etc.) and that neither the tenderer nor anyone in a management position therein is guilty of any offences punishable under the Criminal Code.
Under section 87 of the Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts (1397/2016), in EU procurements the procurement unit must demand a European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) as preliminary proof of the tenderer fulfilling eligibility requirements.
Under section 88 of the Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts (1397/2016), the procurement unit must, before signing the procurement contract, demand that the winning tenderer submit currently valid certificates and reports to demonstrate whether statutory exclusion criteria apply to it and whether the tenderer fulfils the eligibility requirements imposed by the procurement unit.
Evaluation of new suppliers using criteria of corporate environmental and social responsibility
Criteria of corporate environmental and/or social responsibility were applied in 26% of invitations to tender for joint procurements in 2020. The environmental responsibility criteria were based on the HUS environmental program and on product group specific guidelines published in the Guide to Responsible Procurement. Several invitations to tender requested information on the PVC content of the products, and in some it was a compulsory requirement that the product must not contain PVC or any other halogen-containing plastics. Plastic markings and recycling instructions for the product were commonly required. Environmental labels were given as a compulsory requirement in some invitations to tender, such as the FSC/PEFC or type 1 environmental label (the Nordic Ecolabel (Swan) and the EU Ecolabel. Also, emissions reporting and similar features were required in new transport service contracts.
Country of manufacture and responsibility policy
Public invitations to tender published in 2020 required information to be provided on the country of manufacture and traceability of the products. Several invitations to tender also required commitment to the HUS Logistics Code of Conduct, i.e. the minimum sustainability requirements. Some invitations to tender stipulated information on the precise place of manufacture and a third party certified audit report on the production plant in question. Also, several invitations to tender for supplies called for the suppliers to submit a report on their sustainability policy and to explain how they manage corporate social responsibility, subcontractor auditing and operations development in their business. In addition to the above requirements, we conducted our own risk assessments and imposed further requirements for the evaluation of corporate social responsibility in product groups where the market survey indicated that the products originated in risk countries according to the BSCI classification.
Lifecycle costs for medical devices
In competitive tenders for new medical devices, the total life cycle costs of the devices were considered in consultation with medical technology experts. The overall comparison price was formed of the purchase price and the life cycle costs over a period of time specified in the invitation to tender. A report on the quality systems in use was required of practically all suppliers in tenders for medical devices.