Two European umbrella bodies, CoESS and UNI Europa, have published an updated edition of their “Best Value Manual” with the support of the European Commission. The manual – available in 14 languages on http://securebestvalue.org – aims to assist contracting authorities when selecting a private security guarding provider. By identifying key dos and don’ts, those using this manual will be able to combine quality with a favourable price, rather than just settling for the lowest price bidder, it is claimed.
Marc Pissens, President of the Confederation of European Security Services (CoESS) , said: “Choosing security services based on quality and not just price may sound obvious but it is not always the case as an increasing number of security services provided to public and private authorities are awarded solely on costs. This undermines all efforts to improve the quality of the services being provided. Choosing quality means reinforcing citizen’s trust in our services and our industry at large.”
The manual, drafted jointly by CoESS and UNI Europa, a European federation of national trade unions in 50 countries, is an update of the 1999 version. It emphasises the need to support private security in improving the quality of their services and implementing high professional standards as well as providing good working conditions and attracting new employees.
Oliver Roethig, UNI Europa’s Regional Secretary said: “The systematic approach of awarding contracts to the lowest bidder has a harmful and detrimental impact on the various industries and workers concerned. Choosing security services only base on price sends the wrong message and indirectly supports poor professional standards which are very damaging for the industry and its employees who can easily become dissatisfied.”
The manual was launched at a CoESS-UNI Europa workshop, with speakers from the European Commission and representatives from the security services sector as well as trade unions. The new EU legislation about public procurement (Public Procurement Directive 2014/24/EU) was on the spotlight of the discussions.
CoESS and UNI Europa urged their members to support the full application of the EU law and underlined that bidders which did not fully abide by the established obligations, or were in breach of payment of taxes or social security contributions should systematically be excluded. And to ensure that the criteria of most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) was effectively applied; quality should be explicitly mentioned as the main criteria for awarding private security contract, the bodies added.
