Cabinet Office issues guidance on new energy efficient procurement rules

The directive’s Article 6, which relates to energy efficient procurement, took effect on 5 June.

It covers all central government departments including non-ministerial departments and executive agencies, though non-departmental public bodies are included only where they are controlled and mainly financed by the parent department and cover the whole territory of the UK or England.

Similar directions will be issued in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The directive means that affected bodies must, when purchasing products and services and purchasing or renting buildings, comply with its energy efficiency standards, which may be seen here.

But these requirements create only a qualified duty and do not apply unless following it is consistent with achieving value for money, economic feasibility, wider sustainability, technical suitability and ensuring sufficient competition.

The procurement policy note added: “In Scope Organisations should note that the UK is required to encourage public bodies not in scope to act in accordance with Article 6 of the Directive. Defra and Cabinet Office will take such action through appropriate websites, but In Scope Organisations are asked to support this in any way possible.”