SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 12 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The IV Conference on Responsible Public Procurement in the Canary Islands is set to take place on 19 and 20 November at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Government of the Canary Islands in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Approximately twenty experts in the field will discuss the essential elements of a more ethical contracting model that fosters an inclusive and sustainable economy.
Over 300 individuals have already registered for this gathering, which is organised by the Observatory of Responsible Public Procurement of the Canary Islands, part of the Anagos Network. The aim is to enhance the creation of additional socio-labour opportunities for individuals facing vulnerabilities through contracts awarded by public administrations.
These sessions are intended to promote full and ethical adherence to Additional Provision 4 of Law 9/2017, which came into effect on 8 November regarding Public Sector Contracts. This law mandates that administrations reserve a portion of their procurements for social companies, alongside the inclusion of environmental and social criteria in public tenders.
“This is something that is currently far from being fulfilled,” states Carlos Estévez, director of Red Anagos and supervisor of the Observatory of Responsible Public Procurement of the Canary Islands. “There are barely over 800,000 euros in contracts for social enterprises, when, according to the agreements made solely by the Government of the Canary Islands, the annual figure would instead be around 70 million euros,” he continues.
The conferences, which will also be available to follow online, are aimed at personnel from public administrations and social enterprises, policymakers, students, professionals from the private sector, and anyone interested in transparent and sustainable public procurement. Registration can be completed via the contracionresponsablecanarias.org website, where the programme and further information can also be found.
The Observatory of Responsible Public Procurement of the Canary Islands, a part of the Anagos Network, has organised these sessions with the assistance of the European Network to Combat Poverty and Social Exclusion of the Canary Islands (EAPN), the Association of Insertion Companies of the Canary Islands (ADEICAN), and the Regional Association of Special Employment Centres of Social Economy (ARCEESCAN). The event is funded by the Government of the Canary Islands through the Ministry of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Children and Families.
PROGRAMME
The event will commence on Wednesday, 20 November at 9:00 a.m. with speeches from Candelaria Delgado, Minister of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Children and Families; and Gabriel Andrés Megías, Deputy Minister of Finance and Relations with the European Union, following opening remarks from Alicia Silva, president of the Anagos Network, and Juan Carlos Lorenzo, president of EAPN Canarias.
The first presentation, titled ‘Public procurement as a catalyst for an inclusive and sustainable society’, will be delivered by David Comet, a researcher at the Institute of Advanced Social Studies of the CSIC. The day will proceed with a round table discussion titled ‘What are Insertion Companies and Special Employment Centres of social initiative?’, featuring Eugenia de León, president of the Association of Insertion Companies of the Canary Islands (ADEICAN), and Marta Cacho, president of the Regional Association of Special Social Economy Employment Centres (ARCEESCAN), who will highlight the significance of these entities in the economic and social landscape of the islands.
Following a breakfast-networking session, activities will reconvene with a round table titled ‘Compliance with Additional Provision 4: Reserving Contracts and Success Stories’, which will include contributions from Javier Mendoza, professor of Economics at the University of La Laguna and an expert in Responsible Public Procurement; María Elena Monleón, head of contracting at the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council; and Guadalupe Martín, administrator of Trampolín Solidario. Success stories will be shared, alongside discussions regarding the challenges and opportunities of responsible contracting.
Afterwards, Samuel García, a technician from the Observatory of Responsible Public Procurement of the Canary Islands, will present the findings on the ‘State of Reserved Procurement in the Canary Islands 2024’. The first day will conclude with a round table on the ‘Challenges of Responsible Public Procurement in the Canary Islands’, featuring Juan Domingo Cabrera, general director of Heritage and Contracting of the Government of the Canary Islands, and Dolores Padrón, Deputy of the Common of the Canary Islands.
A SECOND DAY FOCUSED ON PRACTICE
On 20 November, public procurement specialist Aloys García will introduce the topic ‘Constructing a Good Contract’, setting the groundwork for the practical sessions that will follow. María Jesús Varona, head of the Corruption Prevention Service of the Canary Islands Audience of Accounts, will address ‘Annual Contract Planning’, and David Comet will explore the integration of social and environmental clauses in contracting processes.
Lawyer Miriam Martín will present on ‘Cost Analysis: Designing the Bid Base Budget and Estimated Contract Value’, tackling essential technical aspects crucial for optimising public resources. The day will conclude with a discussion entitled ‘LCSP Tools: Preliminary Consultations and Economic and Technical Solvency’, led by Susana Eva Franco, doctor and professor of Administrative Law at the University of La Laguna.
The event will conclude with a summary of conclusions from Aloys García, marking another milestone in the Canary Islands’ commitment to responsible public procurement.
