Procurement is core to achieving our objectives of:
- protecting and enhancing a sustainable environment
- promoting a healthier and safer community
- developing a more prosperous and sustainable local economy
This can be achieved by:
- securing best value and improving service standards
- protecting assets and making optimum use of facilities
- modernising the way we do things
We have a number of key drivers, these are to:
- increase the Derbyshire pound
- increase contact with, and the involvement of, Derbyshire organisations in supplying us
- reduce the burden of bidding for smaller value contracts
- increase the number of bidding opportunities for local organisations
- increase the knowledge of local organisations to assist them to effectively tender for work
- ensure transparency of available contract opportunities to local organisations
In order to increase awareness of the ongoing tendering opportunities and to assist businesses to effectively plan and prepare tenders, we publish our contracts register of tenders for all of our major spend areas.
Working with the council
All our tender opportunities are advertised on Source Derbyshire and are managed through the Council’s Tendering portal Tenders East Midlands. Each portal has the facility for you to register and set up tender alerts in line with your business interest.
Our contract opportunities can be viewed on:
Schools
Schools are subject to alternative financial threshold limits under the Local Management of Schools Scheme, June 2011. For more information about schools financial regulations, contact Andy Walker, head of school support finance, email: andy.walker@derbyshire.gov.uk or tel: 01629 532914.
Procurement guidance
The Department for Education (DfE) have a comprehensive and easy to navigate section relating to buying procedures and procurement law for schools.
The DfE also has guidance on buying for schools provides lots of resources for buying goods and services and finding DfE recommended suppliers ranging from books and educational resources to construction projects.
The find a framework tool is particularly useful for school buying professionals and will help you to:
- find ways to buy goods or services, recommended by the Department for Education (DfE)
- get value for money
- comply with buying procedures and procurement law (OJEU)
Find a DfE approved framework for your school.
As set out in your school's financial regulations with regards procurement and tendering requirements, where it is above your school’s financial limit you should follow our standing orders in relation to contract awards.
Knowing how other school business professionals work and sharing contacts, can help you get the best deals, so save you money and time. For example, networking with other buyers for schools can help you:
- find suppliers
- benchmark costs and budgets
- get support with making purchases
- learn from others' documents
- check best practice and understand the market
- get discounts by buying in bulk together
If you require any further help, please email countyprocurementcompliance.team@derbyshire.gov.uk
In all other considerations the principles of tendering remain the same.
Please note: Protocols 1, 2(a), 5, 7(a), 7(b), 8, 9 and 10 should be used to procure where we do not have an established purchasing arrangement (such as contract or framework) for the goods, services of works required.
Contacts
If you require guidance or up-to-date documents related to procurement, please contact the relevant category leads in County Procurement as follows: