‘Please confirm your organisations management procedures in line with ISO9001’
Amongst others, this question or a variant of it will be asked in almost every public sector tender, with ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) accreditation being a common request.
ISO accreditation, amongst other industry specific certificates such as SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement), RISQS (Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme) and many more, show the client you align to the nationally recognised standards they trust. We will cover common non-ISO certifications in another blog post soon. In some cases compliance with these standards will result in your bid scoring higher, and lack of any system may result in your tender being disqualified.
The ISO develops and publishes standards to ensure materials, processes and services are fit for purpose. There are many, however the three most common ISO’s are:
1. ISO9001 – Quality Management System
This is the most common standard showing that you have a system for continually reviewing and improving your product or service in compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
2. ISO14001 – Environmental Management System
This standard demonstrates you have a system for managing your environmental responsibilities and impacts. This has become very important for any public sector client to ensure you are supporting their own environmental targets and Net Zero plan.
3. ISO45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management
ISO45001 demonstrates that your organisation has implemented and maintained a system to minimise work related injuries and ill health. You may already have a detailed health and safety policy, however this certification requires more active management and continuous improvement.
No ISO accreditation? What to do
Some bids make ISO accreditation compulsory – to either already hold it, or achieve certification by contract award. Whilst holding the accreditation might make your bid more attractive, in some cases doesn’t mean you cant still win. You may be able to demonstrate a commitment to the required area through a policy, a manual or other evidence, however in short, when choosing between you and a competitor, this may be the winning edge.
You should consider all compliance items such as this carefully. Remember that it might not be explicitly stated in the quality question that you require such accreditation, but being able to slip in a note that you have it might bolster evidence of your approach.
Our consultants will always look at the following to determine how to best answer the questions:
- We may detail how your management systems align to ISO – you may not quite have accreditation but have good processes in place.
- List alternative and similar accreditations – you may have individuals with advanced training, or membership with other bodies that are comparable.
- Clearly outlining a plan and timeline for becoming accredited.
Should you be considering getting accredited or have failed on this element of a bid recently, get in touch with us via one of the team, or contact [email protected]. We have several certification partners that can help you through the process rapidly.
