Procurement and tendering
The Noorderzijlvest Water Authority works with revenue from tax funds. We work in accordance with the 2012 Public Procurement Act and our internal Procurement Policy. This means that we purchase and tender in accordance with adopted regulations.
Our purchasing and tendering policy has the following objectives:
- We purchase in accordance with the law and in an efficient manner, so that tax money is spent in a controllable and sensible way.
- We are a professional purchaser and client.
- We purchase at the best possible price-quality ratio.
- We keep costs low for entrepreneurs
- We make a positive contribution to a good performance of the water authority.
- We are working to achieve our sustainability ambitions.
Procurement planning
The procurement plan sets out the planned procurement procedures for the year 2025, namely European tenders and multiple private procedures.
How does our procurement work?
Based on applicable regulations, we use the following:
- Multiple private tender procedure
- National and European tendering
- Single private procedure
Socially Responsible Procurement
When we procure products or services, we do so sustainably. We take the price and the impact on the environment and society into account. We pay attention to:
- use of environmentally friendly materials and raw materials;
- conserving water and soil;
- CO2 savings and reduced emissions of other greenhouse gases;
- attention to the living environment;
- care for nature;
- biodiversity and space;
- health and wellbeing first;
- sustainable soil, road, and hydraulic engineering.
Socially Responsible Procurement can be
- Innovation-led procurement: the water authority fosters sustainable development in and of structures, services, and supplies from companies by giving companies the opportunity to incorporate innovative ideas and unique solutions into their bids when tendering for services, supplies, and structures.
- Encouraging suppliers to emit less CO2 and other greenhouse gases
- Biobased procurement: the water authority strives to purchase products that are made entirely or partially from raw materials that can be reused.
- Circular procurement: the water authority encourages higher-quality use of raw materials by purchasing products and raw materials that are based on the preservation of natural resources.
- Social Return: the water authority encourages the participation of people who have diffuclties entering the labour market when we carry out our orders.
- SME-friendly procurement: the water authority looks out for the regional economy and small and medium-sized enterprises without this leading to any form of discrimination against entrepreneurs. In addition, the water authority must not miss out on national, European, or global opportunities.
- International social conditions: the water authority refuses structures, supplies, and/or services that are produced under unacceptable working conditions, such as child labour, forced labour, discrimination against employees, not paying a living wage.
CO2 and tenders
We also use the CO2 Performance Ladder in tenders. Tenders are contracts that companies and organisations carry out for the water authority. The water authority encourages suppliers to emit less CO2 and other greenhouse gases. We want to give suppliers who produce lower emissions an advantage in tenders.
Award advantage
The Noorderzijlvest Water Authority uses the ladder for tenders for works that exceed €150,000. In addition, the water authority investigates whether the CO2 performance ladder is a suitable award criterion for tenders for goods and services that exceed €50,000.
Companies can work on five levels to reduce emissions. Tenderers who ensure CO2 reduction at project level receive an award advantage. The water authority awards extra points to tenderers with ambition levels 4 or 5, so that companies actually contribute to sustainability within the chain.
Market vision ‘The water-authority market of the future’
The water authorities have drawn up a market vision. We did this in close collaboration with companies active in hydraulic engineering and water technology, such as contractors, suppliers, and engineering firms. This market vision is set out in the brochure "The water-authority market of the future - Building blocks for innovation."
Documents
If you are unable to read the document for any reason, please send an email to info@noorderzijlvest.nl.
- Procurement and tendering policy 2025.pdf (Dutch only)
- Brochure 'The water-authority market of the future'.pdf (Dutch only)
The water authority has three different sets of terms and conditions: