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Sustainability and social return can appear as a requirement, an award criterion or a contract condition. The difference matters.
Checked on 15-09-2026
Governments also use their purchasing to achieve policy goals. In the Netherlands this is called socially responsible procurement (maatschappelijk verantwoord inkopen, MVI). In tender documents you will see two forms: sustainability criteria and social return, where the contractor offers work and opportunities to people in a vulnerable position on the labour market.
For sustainability, contracting authorities can use PIANOo's MVI criteria tool, publicly available at mvicriteria.nl. It lists selection criteria, requirements, award criteria and contract clauses per product group, each at three ambition levels. The authority chooses which level it applies. Because the tool is public, you can check in advance which criteria may be asked in your field.
Social return can appear in a tender in two ways. As a requirement or contract condition, expressed as a percentage of the wage bill, a percentage of the contract value or a number of hours of work for the target group. Or as a (sub-)award criterion within best price-quality ratio, where a tender offering more social return earns more points. PIANOo stresses that for each contract the authority has to determine whether social return is proportionate.
The difference matters. A requirement or contract condition is an obligation: if you do not meet it, your tender is invalid or you fail to perform your contract. An award criterion is not an obligation but earns points. Social return as a contract condition is monitored during performance: the contractor delivers what was agreed and tracks progress.
What this means for you: check in the tender documents whether sustainability and social return are included as a requirement, an award criterion or a contract condition, and factor any obligation into your price and planning. Map what you already do, such as work-based learning places or cooperation with a sheltered employment company, and document it with evidence. If you find a requirement disproportionate to the size of the contract, ask about it in the question round.
These articles explain how public tendering works; they are not legal advice. If you are unsure about a specific tender, ask your question through the clarification round or consult a lawyer.
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