24 May 2013

Public Procurement What You Need to Know

The public sector, central and local government, spend upwards of £3 billion annually on the purchase of supplies, services and construction works.

While statistics show that local businesses are successful in winning public sector contracts there is concern that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and social enterprises (SEEs) are missing out and more could be done to increase access for these sectors to bid for and win public sector business.


Public procurement Guidance for Social Enterprises:


How to register to do business with the public sector:

Central Procurement Directorate uses a web-based e-sourcing platform. The portal provides secure web-based tools for buyers and suppliers to conduct the tendering process online. CPD, the CoPEs and many of the local Councils advertise tender opportunities on the portal. If you wish to do business with the Northern Ireland Civil Service or you wish to view the latest CPD opportunities then please click on the following link - e-sourcing NI portal


Please note that you will need to register before using the system


Print providers:

This service is an electronic Request for Quote system which allows contracted print providers to bid for work specified by CPD clients in Departments and Agencies. The system co-ordinates responses and notifies the decision to all interested parties.


Invest NI Tender Alert Service:

Need help to access public procurement tenders opportunities? 

If you can you answer yes to the following questions:

  • Has your social enterprise the capacity to deliver on supplies/services tenders worth between £20k -£100k?·        
  • Has your social enterprise been established at least 3 years?
  • Can you produce audited accounts for the past 2 years?

Then you may be eligible for help from the Tender Alerting Service provided by Invest NI.

(Previous experience of the tendering process is preferable but it is not a requirement)

The service will develop a profile of your business and assist in matching you with relevant tender opportunities - for details - click here

For further information on the tender alert service and Business Information Services - click here 


Framework Agreements:

The Northern Ireland Public Sector’s Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) currently has in place a number of Framework Agreements/Call-Off Arrangements.  These are designed to facilitate the call-off of teams to undertake projects as the need arises by means of a secondary competition between the teams appointed to the framework agreement.  For your assistance CPD has provided two versions of the complete list of these contracts - read more


Useful Resources on Procurement:

A Guide from NI Central Procurement Department : "Selling to Government : The Who, Why, What and Where of Public Procurement "