Polices and procedures
Contents
Procurement and equality of opportunity
At Nottinghamshire County Council it is our policy to work positively to reduce inequality with all customers and employees by ensuring that they are treated fairly and without discrimination.
We believe it is our duty to promote equal opportunity and have taken positive steps to redress inequality. In turn, we expect our employees, visitors and partners to respect and comply with government legislation and policies.
We consider it necessary for organisations who intend to supply goods or services on our behalf to demonstrate that reasonably practicable steps have been taken to allow equal access and treatment in employment and services for all.
Find out more about Procurement and equality of opportunity.
Download a copy of our document: Procurement and equality of opportunity [WORD 48KB]  | Procurement and equality of opportunity [PDF 757KB] 
Procurement and the environment
At Nottinghamshire County Council we are committed to protecting and enhancing the environment for present and future generations.
We want to reduce the environmental impact of purchasing goods, works and services. We will, so far as is reasonably practicable, achieve this by introducing environmental considerations into our procurement processes and contracts, and by raising staff awareness.
Environmental considerations are consistent with our need to demonstrate best value, as best value seeks to achieve the optimum combination of ‘whole-life’ costs and benefits to meet the County Council’s needs. We will also be working with our suppliers and contractors by encouraging them to work towards similar environmental goals.
Find out more about Procurement and the environment.
Download a copy of our document Procurement and the environment [WORD 39KB] | Procurement and the environment [PDF 331KB]
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Procurement and community benefits
The County Council is committed to using procurement to contribute to the regeneration of Nottinghamshire. We will do this by ensuring that where practicable the money we spend on procuring goods, works and services benefits the people, communities and economy of the county.
To realise regeneration benefits through procurement we will support Nottinghamshire-based small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and build community benefit clauses, also called social clauses, into our procurement contracts.
If you are an SME based in Nottinghamshire and would like assistance to develop your capacity to do business with the County Council, please use the feedback form which can be provided by the Skills, enterprise & business support
Find out more about our Procurement and community benefits
Download a copy of our document Procurement and community benefits [WORD 39KB] | Procurement and community benefits [PDF 351KB]
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Procurement and health and safety
Nottinghamshire County Council has obligations and responsibilities to its staff to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, their health, safety and welfare at work.
This obligation extends to people who may be affected by our work. At the County Council we have a statutory duty to provide a safe place of work and a healthy working environment for all of our employees, including those employed on a temporary basis. In certain circumstances, a broadly similar duty exists towards those persons who, while not being employees, are engaged to provide services for the County Council.
This category includes voluntary workers, consultants, contractors and agency staff. The general duties imposed on the County Council are defined in various legal requirements such as The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, The Construction (Design and Management Regulations) Act 1994.
Find out more about Procurement and health and safety.
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Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA):
Nottinghamshire County Council, along with other authorities, is subject to the provisions of the FOIA. If a supplier or contractors considers that any information supplied to us is either commercially sensitive or confidential in nature, this should be highlighted and the reasons for its sensitivity given. In such cases the relevant material will, in response to FOIA requests, be examined in the light of the exemptions provided for in the FOIA.
Confidential nature of tender documentation and bids:
- Tender documentation shall be treated as private and confidential by tenderers.
- Tenderers shall not disclose that they have been invited to bid, or discuss the bid they are about to make, or canvass for its acceptance, other than with professional advisers who need to be consulted.
- In particular, bids shall not be canvassed or discussed with any other tenderer, or councillor, or officer of the Council.
Read more about freedom of information.
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Local Government Act 2003
The County Council is obliged to comply with The Local Government Act 2003. This places a duty on every council to purchase goods, services and works using Best Value principles.
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European Union Public Purchasing Directives
The new EU Public Procurement Directive came into force on 31 January 2006. This Directive harmonises and simplifies what were previously three separate Directives. Suppliers who wish to do business with any public body will find it beneficial to familiarise themselves with the changes and the provisions that are now mandatory for all public sector buyers. For more information visit website: www.europa.eu.int, which has published guidance for suppliers.
All contracts above the relevant EU threshold must be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). These are the available to view on
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Nottinghamshire County Council’s own financial regulations
These determine how money should be spent and regulations may apply to individual tenders or contracts. The County Council's financial regulations state that all contracts estimated to exceed £25,000 must go to tender.
For more information contact the Corporate procurement unit.
Find out more about our Opportunities and processes.
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Nottinghamshire County Council procurement strategy and the Government's national procurement strategy
The Government's national procurement strategy, which can be found at website: www.odpm.gov.uk, and a Nottinghamshire County Council procurement strategy have been developed to inform you how externally sourced goods, works and services are selected, acquired and managed. These strategies mean that both businesses and local authorities are expected to comply with procedures that will result in better business with all councils.
For further information about procurement in local government, which indicates what is expected of suppliers and contractors and all councils, go to one of the following:
website: www.idea.gov.uk
website: www.ogc.gov.uk
website: www.emce.gov.uk
Find out where we advertise our contracting opportunities.
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