Build for All - Construire pour Tous Project: Guidelines for Procurement of Accessible Buildings and Infrastructure

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Directly addressing the EU regulations on public procurement, the BFA project, involved partners from the European building industry, architects, public sector and NGOs, to produce a Reference Manual and training materials for professionals in the field, in relation to public procurement, accessibility and the built environment.

 

The Build for All project was funded under the European Commission's Open Call for Proposals for Transnational Projects VP/2004/008 - Pilot Projects on actions to mainstream disability policies, issued by DG Employment and Social Affairs, Budget heading 04 04 10, "Promoting Accessibility for All".
 
 
Aims and Objectives of the Project:
  • to strengthen the communication between the principle stakeholder groups at European and national level in order to promote sustainable dialogue and systematic consultation between professionals and user groups on how to mainstream design-for-all approaches to the built environment and public infrastructures with a view to achieving the integration and incorporation of such approaches in the design process, the internal policies and modus operandi of the participating stakeholders;
  • the preparation of a Toolkit (or guidance manual) on accessibility / design-for-all to be used by local authorities and tenderers in relation to calls made in the framework of the EU Directives on Public Procurement (Directive 2004/17/EC, Official Journal L 134, 30/04/2004 P.0001 - 0113 and Directive 2004/18/EC, Official Journal L 134, 30/04/2004 P.0114 - 0240). The Toolkit would act to raise awareness among public authorities and other stakeholders on how to achieve accessibility to the built environment and public infrastructure specifically within the context of the new EU Public Procurement Directives. These EU Directives allow public authorities to include social and environmental considerations in public contracts on works, services, and supplies. Technical Specifications for public contracts should take into account accessibility criteria for people with disabilities and older persons, and these criteria and social considerations may be included as certain conditions in the final choice of tenders. The toolkit would be a guide to public authorities about how to draft the technical specifications for public tenders in a way which meets fundamental accessibility criteria.
  • to prepare and provide training material to be used by professionals in the field (construction industry, architects, planners etc) and local and regional authorities in relation to public procurement, accessibility and the built environment.
  • to promote exchange of best practice and effective dissemination of information among key stakeholders on public procurement and accessibility issues.

Results:

Directly addressing the EU regulations on public procurement, the project involved partners from the European building industry, architects, public sector and NGOs, to produce a Reference Manual and training materials for professionals in the field.

The project has published a video (in French with English sub-titles) and the BfA Reference Manual in English, German, Italian, and Spanish, all of which can be accessed from the the project website.

The project demonstrates how the public sector can specify accessibility criteria in its procurement processes, leading to significant benefits for citizens with particular access needs, as well as economic benefits for public clients.

The Project Website is no longer functioning (December 2016).

Download the Build for All Handbook and Reference Manual from the ENAT website.