Procurement
Accessing contracts with either private or public organisations can be a way to expand your market and your sources of finance. It can also help develop your enterprise.
However, to be able to tender you will need the right expertise and knowledge. Below are a few links to information that may be of assistance in understanding procurement and how to make the most of opportunities available.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
How to do business with West Sussex Councils (8043Kb pdf) - A guide for suppliers and service providers. Suppliers can click through the West Sussex County Council links for opportunities: www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/business/supplying-west-sussex
For more detailed information from each of the local authorities in West Sussex, including information on tenders, visit the links below.
Information from West Sussex County Council Information from Adur District Council
Information from Arun District Council Information from Chichester District Council
Information from Crawley Borough Council Information from Horsham District Council
Information from Mid Sussex District Council Information from Worthing Borough Council
NHS
Information from NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PaSA)
CONTRACTS
West Sussex County Council has a contract register which has all corporate contracts, as well as a brief description, renewal dates and contact name (not social services). Visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/business/supplying-west-sussex/3-the-contract-register.en
South East Business Portal (SEBP) to advertise your contracts & opportunities for free. 90% of suppliers registered with SEBP are looking to do business across the whole of the South East rather than with individual councils. Smaller businesses will be able to access sub-contracting opportunities through larger opportunities. You must register onto the SEBP via the Officer Registration area to access the documents. Visit www.businessportal.sece.gov.uk
Bravo Solution e-tendering – sourcing tools which provide the resources to deliver increased savings through strategic sourcing. BravoSolution is an international provider of Supply Management Excellence, delivered through software, professional services and category expertise, to generate value by supporting its clients in the improvement of procurement processes. www.bravosolution.com
Supply2.gov.uk offers public sector buyers the opportunity to post their lower-value contract opportunities (less than £100k) and access profiles of pre-qualification information created by suppliers registered on the site. Registration with supply2.gov.uk allows companies to:
- Search for contract opportunities in your chosen location
- Receive a daily email alert matching your business offering
- Publish your supplier profile to promote your company
- Access guidance on public sector procurement
For further information visit www.supply2.gov.uk/
The Improvement and Efficiency South East IEP (previously known as South East Centre of Excellence - SECE) Business Portal. The Portal is designed to allow the sharing of information about existing contracts (Contract Store) and forthcoming tendering opportunities (Opportunities) across the 74 councils and 8 Fire & Rescue Services of the South East region. For further information visit www.businessportal.southeastiep.gov.uk
CompeteFor is a ‘business dating agency' launched to help South East companies compete for London 2012 contracts. CompeteFor, co-funded by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), will also link companies with local Business Link services which will help boosting the long-term competitiveness of companies in the South East. For further details, visit www.competefor.com/london2012business/login.jsp
The Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) is the publication in which all contracts from the public sector which are valued above a certain threshold must be published. For more information, visit www.ojec.com
INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC PROCURERS
If you work in public procurement and wish to understand more about how and why to procure from social enterprises the following guides from the Social Enterprise Coalition may help.
More for your money: a guide to procurement from social enterprises (for local authorities)
More for your money: a guide to procurement from social enterprises (for the NHS)
Healthy Business: a guide to social enterprise in health and social care (pdf)
Supporting Information
Equality and Human Rights Council - a number of procurement opportunities are available. For details visit www.equalityhumanrights.com/our-job/procurement-opportunities/
Better Project - a project run in partnership by the More Than Profit Network, WSSEN, East Sussex Social Enterprise Network and SE² Partnership to help identify the value and impact of social enterprise and improve the quality of advice in social accounting. For more information see The Better Project (for procurers and commissioners) or The Better Project (for social enterprises).
New Procurement Helpdesk - available from NHS Primary Care Contracting. Providers and commissioners can email questions to the helpdesk and seek advice on procurement issues, particularly around the PCT Procurement Guide. The helpdesk is available at www.pcc.nhs.uk/procurement-helpdesk
Business Link information for 2012 - a number of West Sussex businesses have already won London 2012 contracts. For information about opportunities and training, etc. West Sussex Ahead of the Game want to make sure that local businesses interested in bidding for contracts has the right information and support to help them. Information is available by registering with Business Link. For more general information visit www.westsussex-aheadofthegame.com which also lists all the contacts for registering with Business Link.
Inspiring entrepreneurs offererd free publicity across Europe - In May 2009 the European Commission will launch the first European SME week. The Commission is looking for successful entrepreneurs within different fields to show the various ways of becoming an entrepreneur and to encourage more people to become self-employed. It would like stories from entrepeneurs who have set up an innovative business or have turned difficulties into success; those accepted will gain free publicity in the Commission's brochure which is posted throughout Europe. Send a short discription to toni@eiscltd.eu. For more information on the SME Week 2009 visit http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/
Buy and make a difference - government guide to procurement that recommends discussions with the voluntary and community sector at an early stage of the process in order to meet social objectives effectively. Angela Eagle, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said: "Social issues should be a first thought, not an afterthought – improving the lives and work prospects of citizens will create equality of opportunity for all." Read more here
The Business Link Grants & Support Directory includes details of free or subsidised services available to social enterprises to help with public procurement opportunities. Visit the Business Link Directory
The National Procurement Strategy for Local Government explains how local authorities can improve the quality, delivery and cost effectiveness of local services through better procurement practices. View the Strategy
The Society of Local Government Purchasing Officers (SOPO) has created a national pre-qualification service. Public sector organisations need assurance that suppliers are suitable to tender for public sector contract opportunities. To know more about registering your company visit the SOPO website
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