Two separate tests in the same tender
A supplier bidding for a large central government contract can meet carbon twice, at two different stages:
| PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan | PPN 002 social value | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Condition of participation, early in the process | Award criteria, when tenders are scored |
| Covers | Your whole organisation's UK emissions and net zero commitment | What you will do while delivering this contract |
| Assessed | Pass or fail. Plans are not scored or compared | Scored, at least 10% of the total |
| Applies to | Contracts above £5 million a year | Above-threshold procurements under the Procurement Act 2023 |
The government's PPN 006 FAQ is explicit that the two "are distinct from one another" and that a Carbon Reduction Plan should not be assessed as part of social value. Our PPN 006 guide covers the plan. This post covers the scored part.
Where carbon sits in the Social Value Model
PPN 002 replaced PPN 06/20 in February 2025 and became mandatory for central government procurements started under the Procurement Act 2023 on or after 1 October 2025. Its model is a menu: the buyer picks the outcomes relevant to the contract. Carbon appears under the mission "Make Britain a clean energy superpower", in outcome 4, sustainable procurement practices:
- 4a. Deliver additional environmental benefits in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions and using clean energy and green technologies.
- 4b. Influence staff, suppliers, customers and communities through the delivery of the contract to support climate and nature.
The standard reporting metrics for 4a include the annual reduction in carbon emissions arising from the performance of the contract, in tonnes of CO2e, plus reductions in water use and waste to landfill and the area of green space created. For 4b, the metric is hours spent influencing staff, customers and communities.
What the model question asks for
The model question asks for a method statement and project plan with "specific, measurable and time bound" commitments, within a word limit the buyer sets. A specific, measurable, time-bound commitment is the minimum needed to score any points. Responses are also judged on how the commitment meets the criteria, how you'll involve staff, suppliers and others, whether you'll publish progress, and a timed plan with metrics, monitoring, governance and a way to improve.
The guide adds two points that are easy to miss. Evaluators score the quality of your method and plan, and "volumes are not evaluated", so a smaller commitment that's well planned can outscore a big vague one. And commitments must relate to the contract: "criteria and metrics based on the supplier's general corporate policies" must not be used.
A worked example: a contract-specific commitment
A facilities supplier will run 2 diesel vans for about 15,000 miles a year each on the contract. It commits to replacing both with battery electric vans within six months of the start date. Using the 2026 government factors for an average van up to 3.5 tonnes:
| Vans | kg CO2e per mile | tCO2e a year |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel (Scope 1) | 0.41386 | 12.42 |
| Battery electric (Scope 2, charging) | 0.06856 | 2.06 |
Once both vans are electric, that's a reduction of about 10.36 tonnes CO2e a year from performing the contract, which is the figure the standard metric asks for. In the response, the commitment might read: "Replace both contract vans with battery electric vans by month six, cutting contract emissions by about 10.36 tCO2e a year on the 2026 government factors. We'll report contract mileage and charging monthly, and the fleet manager is accountable."
Writing a strong answer
- Start from the contract: what will it use? Vehicles, buildings, energy, materials, waste.
- Pick one or two commitments that change those, with dates. Don't list your company-wide policies.
- Put a number on each, using the government conversion factors, and state the factor year.
- Describe how you'll measure it during the contract and who is responsible.
- Say how and when you'll report progress to the buyer.
Our post on writing the climate section of a tender covers the wider answer, and what councils ask suppliers about carbon explains how local authorities differ.
How Carbon Recycling helps
A good social value commitment needs a measured starting point. Carbon Recycling turns fuel cards, mileage, bills and waste reports into tonnes of CO2e with the right year's government factors, and every entry shows its own kg CO2e and factor, so you can pick out the vehicles and buildings a contract will use, put a number on your commitment and track it once the contract starts. Tag entries to a site and a site report shows that site's footprint on its own. Your company-wide PPN 006 Carbon Reduction Plan comes from the same data. If you're not sure the plan is needed for a bid, use the free Carbon Reduction Plan checker.