Council procurement
All our services involve procurement. This can range in scale and includes:
- buying in an entire service, for example through the private finance initiative
- purchasing key components, such as large capital assets
- buying smaller items such as office equipment
Any decision to provide a service internally rather than outsource should also be regarded as a procurement decision.
We spend millions of pounds on the procurement of work, supplies and services each year. This provides companies of all sizes with a range of commercial opportunities.
How to find our tenders and contracts
We use the London Tenders Portal to advertise requirements, solicit expressions of interest, quotes and tender submissions. For further information on our tendering process please email our procurement team.
All of our awarded contracts can be found on our contract register.
Procurement Act 2023
The Procurement Act 2023 makes it easier to bid, negotiate, and collaborate with the public sector by simplifying the bidding processes.
The government has developed various resources, including short guides, videos and animations to explain the act, focusing on suppliers, SMEs, and VCSEs. A series of knowledge drops offers a high-level overview of key regulatory changes, covering:
- the new central digital platform
- early market engagement
- prompt supplier payment
- changes in procurement procedures
For regular updates and a summary of these changes, visit the transforming public procurement webpage.
Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012
The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 applies to public services contracts and framework agreements relating to services to which the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 apply.
Under the Act, councils must consider how what is proposed to be procured might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the relevant area and how, in conducting the process of procurement, the council may act with a view to securing that improvement (“Social Value”).
When must the Act be considered?
Before starting any procurement, the Council must think about how it can improve the area's economic, social, and environmental well-being. This happens at the pre-procurement stage, where services are planned and specifications are made, including social value considerations.
What must the Council consider?
The Council should only consider relevant matters and be fair. During pre-procurement, the Council must decide if they need to consult with others, but they are not required to do so. Digital consultation is suggested but may not always be suitable.
What is the relevant area?
The Act requires the local authority to consider the well-being of the whole area they serve, even if the contract is only for part of it. For agreements involving other authorities, the wider area must be considered.
When does the Act not apply?
The Act does not apply to service procurements below £172,514, works, and supply contracts. In urgent cases, the Council can skip the Act's requirements if it's not practical to follow them, but not due to delays caused by the Council.
Other statutory requirements and the Act Section 17 of the Local Government Act 1988 says contracts should be let without considering non-commercial factors. The Act allows considering non-commercial matters if needed for the Social Value duty. The Best Value duty still applies, requiring consideration of economic, environmental, and social value when reviewing services.
Right to challenge
The right to challenge, under the Localism Act 2011, requires us (subject to a few exceptions) to consider expressions of interest from relevant bodies in providing our services. If we accept an expression of interest, it must then conduct a procurement exercise.
The bodies able to express an interest are:
- a voluntary or community body
- a body of persons or a trust which is established for charitable purposes only
- a parish council
- two or more employees of the relevant authority
- any other person or body specified by the Secretary of State by regulations
Expressions of interest must be in writing and must contain specified information as follows:
- identification of relevant body
- financial resources
- evidence of capability in providing service/s
- identify service and geographical area
- outcomes that are to be achieved
- how provision will promote or improve the social, economic or environmental well-being of the relevant authority’s area and how it will meet the needs of the users of the relevant service
We would ask anyone wishing to express an interest in providing one of our services to refer to the Localism Act 2011 and regulations made under it (in particular Statutory Instrument 2012/1313) and also the Statutory Guidance on the provisions relating to this, find out about this on the government webpage on the right to challenge.
Procurement team
The council's procurement team holds primary responsibility for fulfilling our legal obligations related to procurement. This includes ensuring Best Value, Value for Money, adherence to regulations and legislation, and overseeing the corporate procurement strategy.
The team maintains a strategic overview of corporate procurement activities, ensuring that contracts and purchasing arrangements comply with legal requirements and align with the Council’s policies and procedures.
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