EHDC's Guide for Suppliers - Regulations
The regulations we have to follow
We have to follow particular regulations when we buy goods and services to ensure fair competition, probity and value for money. These cover how we advertise and tender.
European rules
These state that if a contract exceeds the relevant European Union thresholds (Works £3,497,313 ; Supplies or Services £139,893 ) we normally have to advertise in the Official Journal of the European Commission, inviting expressions of interest to tender. There are European Directives that set the timescales we have to follow. These rules aim to ensure open and non-discriminatory competition.
Council Rules of Procedure
These regulate how we conduct our business and anyone employed by the Council (staff, consultants etc) must conform to them. They set out the procedures for advertising, evaluating and letting contracts of different values.
How we decide the tender procedure
The estimated value of a contract will determine the tender procedure we follow, including how many tenders we need to invite, how we advertise and what checks we make. For lower value contracts we do not need to seek tenders and can award a contract on the basis of value for money. For larger value contracts, the Council must be satisfied with the competence of the selected contractor, and will carry out an evaluation of their financial standing.
Current contract procedure rules:
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Contract Value
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Tenders/Quotations
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Under £5000
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Obtain atleast one written quote.
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| £5000 - £50,000 |
Obtain atleast three written quotations
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In excess of £50,000 but less than the EU threshold
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Tenders shall be invited from at least three contractors and a formal tender procedure applies.
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Above the EU threshold
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Where the estimated value of a contract is equal to, or more than, the EU thresholds, the contract must be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Community and the Public Contract Regulations 2006 applied. |
How to find out about contract opportunities
If it is of a value above the EU threshold for the relevant type of contract, it will be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Commission. The journal is only available via the internet (www.ted.publications.eu.int ). The advertisement will summarise the service we require, the relevant timescales and deadlines, and will ask for expressions of interest. We do not keep approved lists of suppliers.
Contracts are advertised:
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