Every year Forest Heath District Council spends approximately
£8m on the procurement of goods, works and services. The Council's
procurement activities are designed to achieve value for money and
continuous improvement in all of the processes followed for the
letting of our contracts.
We are committed to improving our efficiency, and reducing
procurement costs. We aim to use a mix of the best suppliers to
promote a diverse and competitive local economy. Achieving our aim
depends on the cost, quality and availability of products and
services and with regard to equality & diversity,
sustainability and health and safety.
Our procurement principles
We will apply the following key principles when making a buying
decision:
- deal openly and fairly;
- consider the whole life cost;
- take account of risk in our buying
decisions;
- expect continuous improvement from our
suppliers;
- develop a mixed economy of supply;
- use electronic procurement methods to
improve efficiency;
- adopt a socially and environmentally
responsible approach;
- support the local economy;
- encourage innovation; and
- ensure competition wherever
appropriate.
We aim to provide guidance to all staff and organisations
wishing to do business with us and if you can meet our aims, there
is an opportunity to trade with us and be part of a local economy
to benefits you and the Forest Heath community.
Equality and Diversity in procurement
We ensure that the purchase of goods, services and facilities is
undertaken in line with our commitment to ensure equality of access
and opportunity for all. We aim to ensure that our suppliers abide
by the law and are working to best practice in this area. As part
of our tender evaluation criteria, suppliers are required to
provide evidence that they have appropriate equal opportunities
policies in place and are committed to them. For more information,
see the Council's Equality and Diversity pages.
Health and safety of suppliers
The Council is committed to ensuring the health, safety and
welfare of its employees and that of all others affected by its
undertakings. Contracts to supply goods or services will only be
awarded to contractors who can satisfy requirements in terms of
resources required and their health and safety competence.
Successful contractors and suppliers are expected to demonstrate
compliance with current health and safety legislation.
When working on our premises you will be issued with specific
health, safety and environmental requirements which you or any of
your sub-contractors will be obliged to follow. When making
deliveries to our sites suppliers should familiarise themselves
with the site rules as well as observing parking and one-way
restrictions. More information can be found in our
Health and Safety guidance to suppliers
Contact details
These pages have been created to give support and information
relating to our current and future procurement activity, and to
provide you with the procedures in which we follow.
For all initial contact on selling to the Council, please
contact:
Procurement Manager
Phone: 01638 719331
Email:
procurement@forest-heath.gov.uk