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Procurement
Would you like to become one of our suppliers? Are you already supplying us with goods or services? If so this page has all the information you need to help you do business with us. If you are a member of the wider procurement community, including other parts of the public sector, professional bodies and academia, you will also find it useful.
Our objectives
Our procurement follows some key objectives:
- Obtaining maximum value for money in contracting for the goods and services that enable the department to deliver its business objectives.
- Enhancing the competitiveness of the supply base.
- 'Value for money' means the optimal combination of costs, service delivery and quality.
Open for e-business
We are particularly interested in lowering the cost of the procurement process; we are committed to doing business electronically for the benefit of all.
As a first step along this road, we use the Government Procurement Card (VISA) for low-value orders. We encourage suppliers to accept payment in this way - and it is likely to be a requirement for many future contracts.
Open for business with small firms
We are responsible for developing business opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with up to 500 employees. 'Value for money' is the only deciding factor when we award contracts competitively but, given our wider responsibility, we strongly encourage SMEs to bid for the departmental contracts they believe they could fulfill.
The Small Business Service (SBS) has launched a new portal, the Supplier Route To Government (the link to this can be found on the right of this page), to assist SMEs in accessing public sector opportunities. This new web site opened for business on 31 March 2006 and will advertise lower value contract opportunities.
We hope you find these pages useful. Please email your suggestions or for any procurement queries, please e-mail Procurement Policy Services: procurementpolicy@berr.gsi.gov.uk
Related Documents
(38KB)External Links
- Office Of Government Commerce: OGC news, publications, services and information for the government procurement community.
- SIMAP Website: Access to information on electronic procurement, the revised CPV codes and standard forms for notification.
- Institute of Logistics & Transport: Formulates research and shares academic and professional views on the role of procurement in the supply-chain.
- Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) : Provides a programme of improvement in professional standards and raises awareness of the contribution that purchasing and supply makes to prosperity.
- International Purchasing and Supply Education and Research Association (IPSERA): Network of academics and practitioners dedicated to the development of understanding of Purchasing and Supply Management.
- Home Office Commercial Website
- Small Business Service - Supplier Route to Government