Procurement Services

Herefordshire Council buys a wide range of goods, works and services on behalf of the people who live and work here, or who visit us as tourists. It is the council's duty to secure value for money when we buy, and we always try to improve the quality of what we obtain each time we go to market.

We are currently reviewing how we buy what we need, and who we buy it from. This forms part of our continuous review of procurement procedures and practices in accordance with the Council Procurement Strategy.

In particular, we want to ensure that we do as much business as possible with smaller local businesses, and welcome enquiries from them at all times. In the spirit of this, we are promoting as many council opportunities to Herefordshire businesses as we can, via the Business Portal;Herefordshire Business Portal .  Register your company for free and you will be sent email alerts when new opportunities arise.

The Council utilises a mix of approved suppliers and open competition in the contracting process and adheres to the procurement principles (below).  However, much of what we need is obtained through our main partners, Amey Wye Valley and West Mercia Supplies (WMS). WMS in particular supply us with a wide range of office supplies which we need to run our own services, particularly schools, and therefore certain enquiries are directed to them.

Procurement Principles

• Ensure best value is achieved in all procurement, incorporating quality, cost and service considerations.
• Encourage fair and open competition and engage in collaborative practices as appropriate.
• Comply with all applicable rules and statutory requirements.
• Balance cost and quality considerations and benchmark at every opportunity.
• Operate a fair, impartial and transparent contract award process.
• Ensure that the procurement process used is cost effective and proportionate to the level of expenditure involved.
• Promote environmental issues through its procurement and contract processes.
• Drive the Equal Opportunities agenda and ensure the principles are effectively addressed through the procurement and contract processes.
• Provide quality affordable services.

Procurement Policy Objective

To procure products and services in a way that most effectively achieves the Council's corporate and service objectives while demonstrating best value and adhering to principles of probity, good governance, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

 

Contact Information: Herefordshire Council
Corporate Procurement Team, PO Box 4, Plough Lane, Hereford, HR4 0XH

Tel: 01432 260043/383565