Our Commercial Policies

We are committed to operating ethically and with integrity across all our business relationships, including our interaction with suppliers and customers.

Sustainable Procurement

In recognition of the environmental and social impact of procured goods, services and works, we aim to:

• Always purchase from suppliers that operate sound environmental policies, and whose practices are sustainable and ethical;
• Work with key suppliers to help spread sustainability improvements through the supply chain wherever possible.

Our procurement team works to meet all appropriate legislative and best practice standards, as captured in our Environmental and Sustainable Procurement Policy. This includes working in line with the Government Buying Standards and the Greening Government Commitments.

Social Value

The Met Office is commited to deliver social value through its commercial and procurement activities and to set the priorities in relation to social value. Social Value Policy outlines Met Office considerations how economic, social and environmental wellbeing may be improved by services that are to be procured. 

Social Value Charter shows how does the Met Office promote responsible procurement to achieve social, environmental and economic value throughout our supply chains. 

Modern Slavery Act

The Met office is committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in its commercial and procurement activities, and to ensuring that its supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking. Attached statement relates to actions and activities to date and those planned up to 2021. 

Modern Slavery Helpline on Tel: 08000 121 700 or online at: www.modernslaveryhelpline.org. The Helpline provides information and advice about modern slavery, a 24-hour telephone reporting line and an online reporting function through the website.

Supporting SMEs and the Third Sector

We encourage participation of SMEs and the Third Sector in its supply opportunities and we work to remove some of the barriers faced by these organisations during the purchasing process. We prepared a Met Office SME Action Plan to help to achieve a greater cooperation with the sector. 

Tendering

Whenever appropriate opportunities are available, consideration is given to:

• Flagging contract opportunities that are considered suitable for SMEs within the advertisement process;
• Using lots within the tender procedure by breaking down the particular requirements and providing opportunities for SMEs and Third Sector;
• Asking main suppliers to evidence their achievement of value for money through the effective use of their supply chain, including how SMEs and the Third Sector can gain access to their sub-contracting opportunities;
• Requiring the delivery of workshops with SMEs and Third Sector organisations on the selection of sub-contractors by prime contractors supplying large construction contracts;
• Accepting equivalent standards and evidence from organisations bidding for contract opportunities;
• Accepting both private and public sector-based references and evidence of capability from bidders.

Invoice Payments

We aim to reduce all invoice payment times to 5 working days in line with the target for all Government departments.

We are also a signatory of the Government-backed Prompt Payment Code which we encourage all of our suppliers to support. Wherever possible we will ensure the terms detailed in the Code are passed on to any sub-contractors engaged in support of a Met Office contract.