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Social value in council and housing association tenders
Before you write a social value answer, find out which model the buyer is using. Central government buyers follow PPN 002, and from 1 January 2027 PPN 026 for contracts of £1 million or more. Councils and housing associations usually set their own themes and measures in the tender pack. Then write commitments the buyer can score: a number, a date, who is responsible and how you will report it.
What our data shows
63% of repairs and care contracts were let by councils, housing associations and combined authorities.
Of the 1,745 repairs and care contracts awarded in England and Wales between 17 October 2025 and 17 October 2026, 1,108 (63%) were let by councils, housing associations and combined authorities. On 17 October 2026, 158 of the 220 live tenders in our index (72%) came from the same kinds of buyer.
These buyers are not required to follow the central government notes PPN 002 or PPN 026, though some adopt them. For most of the work you bid for, the social value model is the one in the tender pack, so read it before you write a word.
Source: ClearBid analysis of Find a Tender and Contracts Finder notices, one count per contract. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. How we work these out.
Which rules apply to your tender
| Who is buying | Social value model |
|---|---|
| Council, housing association or other local buyer | The buyer's own model: its themes and measures, set out in the tender pack. PPN 002 or PPN 026 only if the pack adopts them. |
| Central government, procurement started under the 2015 rules | PPN 06/20 (its themes and model award criteria), with at least 10% of the total score. |
| Central government, Procurement Act 2023, started before 1 January 2027 | PPN 002 and the buyer's stated outcomes, tied to the National Procurement Policy Statement priorities. |
| Central government, £1 million or more (including VAT), starting on or after 1 January 2027 | PPN 026, the Social Value Model: two outcomes only, Good Jobs and Skills, with at least 10% of the score from £1 million and 20% from £5 million. |
| Scottish buyer | Community benefits in the buyer's own terms, under the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014. PPN 002 and PPN 026 don't apply. |
Get the full guide (PDF, free)
Also inside: write commitments a buyer can score, match the model the buyer uses, a commitment table you can copy and a checklist for before you submit.
Here's your guide.
Download the PDFSources
- GOV.UK, PPN 026: The Social Value Model (published 5 August 2026)
- Procurement Pathway, PPN 002: Taking account of social value in the award of central government contracts
- Bevan Brittan, The National Procurement Policy Statement (published 12 February 2025)
- ClearBid methodology: how our figures are built
General guidance, not legal advice. Check the tender documents and the buyer's own rules for each bid. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.