Suppliers & contractors
Supplying the future of energy with AES
Our suppliers play an important role in helping us deliver for our customers and create positive impacts for people and the planet. Promoting good working conditions, environmentally responsible management and ethical behavior are all key parts of our commitment. To deliver on this commitment, we need to ensure our suppliers are aligned with our values and work with the highest standards.
We hold our suppliers and contractors to the same high ethical standards we have. The AES Ethics & Compliance Program takes a risk- based approach that categorizes suppliers based on the potential risk of the transaction involved. The risk profile of an engagement determines the required pre-engagement due diligence and any conditions of engagement, such as requirements for certifications, acknowledgments, training, and engagement structure. We strive for continuous improvement and support our suppliers if performance improvements are needed.
Supplier evaluation program
At AES, we evaluate new and existing suppliers using a diverse set of tools depending on the complexity or criticality of the transaction.
One tool we use is STACE (Safety and Sustainability, Technical, Alignment, Cost, Execution), a scorecard that enables our people to evaluate supplier proposals and performance in a fair and consistent manner.
The pre-qualification supplier process includes financial and ESG factors and compliance with laws. Existing suppliers are evaluated and audited for their environmental, safety, and labor practices. Sustainability criteria included in the evaluation process are tailored to the specific location of the work, materials, and/or services provided. These can include environmental and safety metrics and performance, commitment to comply with all applicable labor regulations (such as child or forced labor, working hours, etc.), and other criteria.
We also have a process to evaluate a contractor’s potential environmental impacts, including contractors that transport and supply oil, fuel, ammonia, coal, or byproducts to our site. In addition, all contractors and suppliers working on-site or on behalf of AES must adhere to our safety and environmental standards.
Supply base risk management
To manage risk in our supply chain, we have established standards that
include:
- Contingency plans – Supply chains play a key role in minimizing the downtime associated with asset failure since unexpected high-impact events may have a substantial negative impact on the business. We have adopted guidelines to create contingency plans and/or procedures to identify and respond to incidents and emergency situations, and maintain the continuous operation of critical assets. Proper mapping of essential suppliers is included as part of the spend analysis activities, and we also identify alternative sources.
- Inventory & criticality relation – We include criticality assessment for the different assets and parts within inventory as well as proper planning tools to ensure availability and replenishment according to lead times.
- Asset management – Assessment of supplier performance enables the identification of issues to be addressed via corrective action plans as well as best practices that should be recognized and duplicated.
Performance indicators
To improve performance, we set annual objectives aligned with the overall business strategy. Some of the supply chain activities key performance indicators (KPIs) include:
- Inventory optimization– ensures the availability of the goods that are needed and reduces the risk of stock outs by focusing on demand planning activities. In previous years, we have exceeded our inventory reduction targets.
- Spend management– Our goal is to have at least 25% of our spending with suppliers managed under contracts in our centralized database, rather than as stand-alone purchases. Since 2015, our percentage of spend under contract has achieved this target.
- Savings– Savings expectations are set on a long-term basis with an official target set annually during the budget review process. In previous years, AES has exceeded its saving targets
People, planet and accountability principles
Using the following principles, our supply chain professionals drive sustainability and social responsibility excellence across our businesses:
- Environment – Supply chain management actions and decisions must promote health, protection, preservation, and vitality of the environment in which the organization operates, including water, land natural resources, flora, fauna, and the people who are directly or indirectly related to our operations.
- Ethics and business values – The standards of our Supply Chain Management group are founded on our ethics and compliance policies and procedures, as well as our Code of Conduct.
- Health and safety – Suppliers must act to protect and reduce the occurrence or risk of injury, danger, failure, error, accident, harm, or loss and comply with our health and safety programs.
- Human rights – All supply chain procedures and actions must facilitate our businesses’ compliance with local labor laws and create the mechanisms that will encourage the observance of human rights and other regulations
Our supply chain process
Sourcing
Response to RFI/RFP/RFQ
You may be invited by AES to submit a proposal or quote. You will receive an invitation to register on Ariba (basic registration) to review the Request for information / proposal / quotation and submit your bid. This step will include any local pre-qualification requirements (e.g., assessments related to safety, cybersecurity, business ethics, etc.).
Contracting
Contractor negotiation & execution
Upon completion of the sourcing phase, a contract formalizing the future business relationship and referring to the awarded proposal may be created, reviewed, approved and executed online in Ariba. For simple transactions, the award may result in a Purchase Order only (see procurement step).
Registration
Supplier registration and on-boarding
If successful at the Sourcing phase, you will be invited register (full registration) as a Supplier so a Purchase Order can be issued. Depending on the AES Business, this invitation will be sent to you via our online Supplier Gateway (in US) or via email (outside US). Information required includes legal entity registration, Tax ID, bank details, certifications (if any), etc. Any update to your Supplier information shall be done via the same process.
Procurement
PO reception and confirmation
A business transaction will result into a Purchase Order (even if a contract exists) which will be issued to you via the Ariba Network (US, México, Dominican Republic, Panamá) or email from SAP (all other countries). For PO issued via the Ariba Network, you will be required to confirm your acceptance of the PO quantity and delivery date via the Ariba Network. For Services PO, you will be required to confirm performance of the Services via the Ariba Network.
Invoicing
Invoice submission and payment status check
You will submit your invoice(s), debit/credit memos via the Ariba Network (US, México, Dominican Republic, Panamá), via email (all other countries) or mail (only where legally required). You can check the invoice status and payment information via the Ariba Network (where in use) or via email query (all other countries).
Prospective suppliers
Current suppliers
Procurement requirements
Our procurement guidelines define AES business practices and expectations worldwide. We promote a transparent and fair environment for potential suppliers to participate in our bidding processes.
Human rights policy
Promoting acceptable working conditions, environmentally responsible management and ethical behavior are all key parts of our commitment. To deliver on this commitment, we need to ensure our suppliers are aligned with our values and work with the highest standards.
Supplier code of conduct
Our work with Suppliers is critical to our advancing our mission. This Code of Conduct includes basic requirements and expectations applicable to all suppliers, contractors, consultants and third-party intermediaries to The AES Corporation and its affiliates.