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Handbook 3.1 - Changes for contracting authorities and purchasers

Handbook 3.1 of the CO2 Performance Ladder was published on 22 June 2020. From this moment on it is possible for organizations to be certified in accordance with the new standard. What does this mean for contracting authorities and buyers?

Handbook 3.1 of the CO2 Performance Ladder was published on 22 June 2020. From this moment on it is possible for organizations to be certified in accordance with the new standard. What does this mean for contracting authorities and buyers?


Impact on projects

The most important change to Handbook 3.1 is that the standard pays more attention to what happens on projects. As from Handbook 3.1, contracting authorities will also have more insight and transparency into the emissions from projects.


 


It is not new that the CO2 Performance Ladder also covers projects. This has been part of the standard since 2011 and the tendering system has been drawn in line with the European tendering directive. The CO2 Performance Ladder is therefore not only a company certificate, but it is also about what companies do on projects. In Handbook 3.1 we have written down the elements of the standard that relate to projects more clearly and positioned them much better. By making a number of minimal adjustments to the standard, we will achieve much more impact on projects and make it more transparent.


 


This development of the CO2 Performance Ladder also fits well with the development and further professionalization of Socially Responsible Procurement (SRI): contracting authorities not only want to steer and reward sustainability through SRI, but they really want to know the impact of this way of tendering. The new standard of the CO2 Performance Ladder will therefore increase the impact on projects and make it more visible. We will do this, among other things, by introducing the Project File.


In a project file, a certificate holder collects everything he does on projects. Consider, for example, the emissions of the project and what measures are being taken. In addition to the BPKV CO2 Performance Ladder criterion, contracting authorities can request the project file from the contractor and start a dialogue about it. From 2020 SKAO will facilitate a digital project file to increase transparency on projects.


 


Tendering with the CO2 Performance Ladder

The CO2 Performance Ladder Handbook is a document that sets out the requirements and conditions for certificate holders to obtain a certificate. SKAO has the Procurement Guide for contracting authorities. This is a document containing the BPKV requirements for the CO2 Performance Ladder and describing a ready-made step-by-step plan for buyers. This document has been drawn up with the Procurement Platform: a platform with several lawyers from different contracting authorities. The manner of tendering has not changed with the publication of Handbook 3.1, but because some explanations of requirements have been adjusted, the Procurement Guide will be updated as soon as possible.


 


Transitional arrangement

Buyers can expect two versions of certificates as proof of tenders in the coming period: a certificate based on version 3.0 or one based on a new 3.1 version. Organizations can obtain a version 3.1 certificate from 22 June 2020. A transition period of 6 months has been established. This means that from December 23, 2020, all organizations must obtain a certificate in accordance with the new standard. Because every organization is audited annually, this means that (in theory) version 3.0 certificates may be in circulation until December 22, 2021. SKAO advises purchasers to consider the certificates based on Handbook 3.0 and 3.1 as equivalent during this period.


 

Procurement network

Do you have questions about tendering with the CO2 Performance Ladder Manual 3.1 or about the project file? Please contact SKAO. Would you like to know more and be actively involved in the developments in the field of tendering with the CO2 Performance Ladder? Then become a member of our Network Tendering CO2 Performance Ladder.


Handbook 3.1 was published on June 22 and can be downloaded here.