GReen procurement And Smart city suPport in the energy sector
Green Public Procurement (GPP) is a process where public authorities seek to procure goods and services with a reduced environmental impact throughout their life-cycle, when compared to goods and services with the same primary function than would otherwise be procured (COM (2008) 400). The main project objective is to support cities, municipalities, regions involved in adopting innovative solutions in the energy sector, and strengthen them interregionally in MED countries through the ability to use an advanced green transnational electronic procurement system. The project moves in 3 main paths of action: 1. Strengthening green procurement processes in wider MED region, with emphasis on energy (eg renewable sources, green materials), through use of online supply management system. 2. Supporting actions aimed at highlighting green energy solutions, which strengthen the capacity of local/regional authorities to use and set quality green requirements. 3. Sharing expertise and best practices amongst the authorities in the project, and supporting activities of dissemination/information to stakeholders (incl. SMEs). A participating city/region can be involved in: 1. Registration of authorities in its region, active in green energy 2. Participation in recording and analysis of specifications for the new, intelligent online supply management system 3. Advisory assistance in determining quality requirements for green technologies and solutions, from the perspective of suppliers (eg SMEs), and of local/regional government 4. Participation in MED transnational network of organisations that promote green electronic procurement 5. Participation in design/development of the innovative electronic management of green procurement 6. Transnational testing/evaluation of the new system 7. Participation in international conferences/meetings of project 8. Dissemination/information activities relating to public authorities, SMEs and citizens, on the objectives and expected outcomes of project. To implement the new method, transnational cooperation amongst key stakeholders is necessary. Its assessment builds on knowledge and experiences in energy procurement from different MED areas, to reach common strategies to increase potential impact of e-procurement. In this context, 13 partners from 6 MED and 2 IPA countries collaborate in GRASP to exchange knowledge on energy procurement. Interactive workshops/seminars, educational material and networking, study visits and stakeholder involvement, are key in identifying the green means of increasing procurement effectiveness, while moving away from negative practices. They form the basis of method development, testing and capitalisation. Established EU principles are included, i.e. Transparency, Non-discrimination, Linking all requirements with contract subject matter, mutual recognition. GRASP method will evolve in cohesion with GPP Advisory Group (AG) and the Handbook on Environmental Public Procurement.