As set forth in the Social Responsibility Program, MACBA recognizes public procurement as a tool for promoting social and environmental change. As a result, MACBA promotes responsible public procurement by including social, ethical and environmental criteria throughout both the contracting process and the selection process for contracting companies. It does so in order to ensure a balance between quality and cost.

In addition to the technical criteria involved in acquiring a product or hiring a service, decisions regarding responsible procurement take into account other ;aspects related to the material and working conditions involved in production. Through responsible public purchasing, MACBA seeks to contribute to the fulfilment of social, ethical and environmental objectives, and to contribute indirectly to the development of policies of general interest.

The principles, criteria and objectives for which is regulated our procurement are collected at MACBA's Responsible Public Procurement Policy.

Responsible Public Procurement Policy (in Catalan)

As an organization attached to the Barcelona City Council, MACBA also applies the principles set forth in the Guides for Social, Environmental and Innovative Public Procurement approved by the Barcelona City Council in 2017.

The different measures included in this guide are incorporated into the administrative clauses applied. They must fulfil the European Union’s fundamental principles for procurements (principle of concurrence, freedom of access, publicity, transparency, non-discrimination and equal treatment), they must be in keeping with the subject of the contract and must be proportional.

Some examples of social clauses included in published tenders are the payment of fees to subcontracted companies; the application of a plan for gender equality; the application of a plan against sexual or gender-based abuse; measures for balancing work, personal time and family time; or guaranteeing inclusive communication. Some examples of environmental clauses are the separate collection of waste; energy efficiency in computers; and elements for sustainable communication. In addition, best practice agreements applicable to individual sectors such as public service are applied in order to address the issues faced by each sector.

Agreement by the working group on customer service and mediation (in Catalan)

Responsible public procurement is promoted by Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement. This directive emphasizes public procurement as one of the instruments that must be used to promote sustainable growth and a more efficient use of public resources. This is stated in the “Europa 2020” communication by the European Commission from March 3, 2010: smart growth, with the development of an economy based on knowledge and innovation; sustainable growth, promoting a more resource-efficient, greener and more competitive economy; and inclusive growth, fostering a high-employment economy delivering economic, social and territorial cohesion.

These criteria for public procurement are included in Spanish Law 9/2017, of 8 November, on public sector contracts (LCSP), which includes measures for the fulfillment of obligations regarding environmental, social and occupational matters present in both legislation and collective agreements.