Procurement

Selling us goods and services

When acquiring goods, works or services, different options are considered.If purchasing is identified as the best option we follow the procurement processes set out in our Contract Regulations

If the procurement is covered by a corporate contract then officers must use that contract. If there is no corporate contract then we classify the procurement depending on the total contract value:

• Low value procurement under £150,000
• High value procurement £150,000 and over

Low Value Procurements

These are procurements under £150,000.

We seek three written quotations, preferably two from the local suppliers. We consult trade publications, search engines and directories, including the Kingston Directory of Voluntary Organisations and the Local Supplier Directory.

If you are asked to provide a quote, you will be provided with:

• an invitation to quote, which includes a description of requirements, details of the evaluation criteria we will use to assess submissions, deadlines and who to contact with any enquiries
• and copy of our terms and conditions for low value procurements.

Once we have identified a contract winner, all suppliers who made proposals will be notified. We will provide constructive feedback wherever possible.

High Value Procurements

These are procurements £150,000 and over.

All tendering opportunities for relevant contracts run by the Council, or on behalf of the Council, are published on our e-tendering system London Tenders Portal. We also inform our local suppliers of any new funding opportunities via the Kingston Directory of Voluntary Organisations and the Kingston Business Directory

If a contract exceeds EU Public Procurement Directive thresholds it will also be published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) and its online version, the Tenders Electronic Daily.

Doing Business with Kingston Council guide for suppliers  

The Council has produced a supplier's guide for doing business which provides information about our procurement processes, values and culture, including Social Value, London Living Wage, Equalities and Diversity, Environment and Sustainability and support to businesses.

Local Supply Chain Business Directory

We invite local businesses to register on our local supplier directory, these details will be shared internally with staff at the Council as a resource for finding potential suppliers to seek quotes from. Spend can range from a few hundred pounds up to millions so suppliers of all sizes and sectors are encouraged to register.

The directory will also be shared with suppliers working with the Council looking to subcontract with local businesses and will also be published on the council website and updated on a quarterly basis.

Learn more about the Local Supply Chain Business Directory and submit your details here.