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These procedures can vary depending on the type of
product we are buying as well as its value.
Goods and supplies
Although we do undertake some spot purchasing for low value items,
the bulk of our general supplies are purchased through pre-tendered
corporate contracts.
These are negotiated by us or, more commonly, as part of wider
Public Service Consortia, e.g. the Office for Government Commerce
(OGC), Central Buying Consortium (CBC), London Contracts and
Supplies Group (LCSG).
The contracts are usually between 3 and 5 year terms and are
advertised via public advertisement in OJEU and relevant trade
journals. This method offers us choice, high quality standards and
best value.
The Strategic Procurement Unit is responsible for arranging,
negotiating and monitoring the core corporate
contracts.
Specialist goods
More specialist goods are purchased by the specific
departments.
The Strategic Procurement Unit keeps a central database of
suppliers.
If you want to submit product information, send
it to:
The Strategic Procurement Unit
Town Hall, East Ham
London
E6 2RP
For other enquiries about supplying goods
please email the
Strategic Procurement
Unit.
Services
Some of our main services are regularly
exposed to competition.
For example:
- Grounds maintenance
- Leisure services
- Parking enforcement
These high value contracts typically last for between 5
and 10 years. We use an evaluation model to measure the merit of
each bid, and base our decision on a range of factors that offer us
the best value in terms of capability, quality of service and not
necessarily lowest price.
Our standard procedure for letting contracts follows a
well-established tendering process. Usually, the contractors have
undergone a rigorous examination of their financial stability,
technical competence, operational methods, health and safety and
employment practices.
Increasingly, we are seeking to enter into
innovative partnership arrangements with external organisations,
which provide inward investment and development of the services. We
welcome enquiries and ideas about alternative solutions to
traditional methods of service provision.
Social care
The provision of Social Services to
vulnerable members of Newham's community is provided through the
Adult Services and Children & Young People's Services.
Both service areas regularly offer contracts
through the tendering process, for the provision of a selection of
services, which can include:
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Day Care
- Home Care
- As well as other services for vulnerable people with
special needs.
These specialist contracts typically last for up to five
years. They are designed to enable specialist providers to bid for
them in a competitive and equitable way.
Before contracts are awarded, an evaluation
process takes place to ensure tenders submitted can provide the
level of specialist services being sought. This will take account
of a range of factors that offers us the best value in terms of
meeting the service specification and not necessarily the lowest
price.
Providers of specialist services for adults must
be registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection
(CSCI). Compliance with the CSCI Standards will be a requirement
throughout the duration of any contract. Similarly, providers of
services to Children & Young People will be subject to CSCI
requirements.
We tend to follow a standard tendering process.
Advertisements are placed in the local press and specialist
publications such as Community Care inviting expressions of
interest.
Subsequently, tender packs are despatched with full details of the
service we wish to commission, the duration, and, depending on the
service being tendered, an indication of the budget available.
Tenders are then evaluated against clear published criteria by a
panel of experienced officers and, where possible and practicable,
service users.
Contracts are then awarded based on a combination of financial and
non-financial factors requested in the tender.
Works
Construction and maintenance type works relating to building and
civil engineering that fall below the EU Public Works Contract
threshold are normally carried out by contractors chosen from our
approved list. The list is maintained to ensure that those firms
employed by us to undertake works within the borough are suitably
qualified to do so in terms of technical ability (including
registration with trade organisations such as CORGI and NICEIC,
where appropriate), financial stability, including compliance with
the Construction Industry Tax Scheme, health and safety, equal
opportunities and environmental policies.
The
approved
list is reviewed every 5 years and is due for renewal in
2009.
For approved list enquiries please contact the
Strategic Procurement
Unit. |