Social Procurement
“Social procurement is the transition from making good deals, to making deals that do good. Procurement, which is a transactional tool of the demand side, redefines the value proposition to go beyond the lowest cost and be based on values of a larger stakeholder base.”
Overview
Social procurement recognizes that the purchasing of goods and services can be a powerful tool to strengthen community well-being. Through intentional procurement practices, organizations can help reduce poverty, promote economic and social inclusion, and support local economic development and social enterprises. By integrating supplier diversity and workforce development considerations into procurement processes, social procurement fosters an environment that encourages inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Laurentian University is committed to leveraging its purchasing power to generate positive social and economic impact for the communities it serves. The University seeks to provide equitable access to procurement opportunities, particularly for underrepresented suppliers, local businesses, and social enterprises. University's approach to social procurement is guided by a framework of values and principles that encourages inclusive participation, supports community resilience, and aligns procurement activities with the University’s broader commitment to social responsibility and regional development.
Values and Principles
- Integrating social and environmental objectives into administration and finance functions, roles, decisions, and behaviors to benefit the institution, students and communities
- Harnessing administration and finance tools, assets, resources and relationships to innovate, accelerate and scale social impact
- Aligning job purpose with social purpose, where all administrative jobs have more purpose and contribute to social impact.
- Identify industry best practices and support administrators in embedding greater social value in finance and administrative domains.
- Take into account new requirements when planning and constructing all new services counters and fixed queuing guides and all new constructed or redeveloped waiting projects.
Office of Procurement and Contracts will ensure that goods, services and constructions which are procured or acquired incorporated accessible design, criteria and features. When is not practicable to do so, LU will provide an explanation upon request.
Buy Social Canada
Buy Social Canada brings together socially driven purchasers
and social enterprise suppliers to build business relationships
that generate social benefits for communities across the country.
We work with community, private sector, and governments to
support the development of policy and resources to strengthen
local and regional social procurement initiatives. We offer a
recognized, Canada-wide social enterprise certification program
that opens the door to an emerging social impact network.
