guide
Social Value in Public Procurement
6 min readBy Helen MarshReviewed by David OkonjoPublished 2026-06-24Last reviewed 2026-07-18
In short
Social value is a scored component of most public tenders, typically weighted at 10% or more, and is assessed on the specificity, additionality and measurability of the commitments you offer alongside the contract.
What scores well
Evaluators reward commitments tied to the contract, the locality and a measurable target.
- Named outcomes with numbers, dates and a responsible owner
- Local relevance to the buyer's communities, not national headline figures
- Additionality: activity that would not happen without this contract
- Reporting method the buyer can verify during delivery
What loses marks
Recycled corporate CSR narrative, unquantified aspirations, and commitments your delivery team has never seen before submission.
Frequently asked questions
Are social value commitments contractual?
Frequently yes. They can be written into the contract with KPIs attached, so only offer what you will deliver.
Sources