The value of a contract determines the procedures that we must follow. It defines the number of quotes required or whether a tender process must be set in place.
Threshold levels for quotes and tenders
The current threshold levels in operation are as follows. When seeking quotations, we obtain at least one quote from a local supplier where possible:
- £1,000 to £10,000 - Obtain at least 2 quotes, at least one of which must be from a local supplier
- £10,000 to £100,000 - Obtain at least 3 quotes, at least one of which must be from a local supplier
- £100,000 to £150,000 - Obtain at least 4 quotes, at least one of which must be from a local supplier
- Over £150,000 - Tender
- £181,302 supplies and services / £4,551, 413 works and above - Tender via OJEU* advert & rules
Types of tender
We use the following types of tender:
Open tender
Under an open tender procedure all suppliers who respond to an advertisement are automatically supplied with tender documentation via the South East Business Portal. This approach is usually followed when purchasing standard items or services where it is believed that the market is small.
Restricted tender
The restricted procedure is a two-stage approach in which we invite interested suppliers to undergo a pre-qualification assessment before inviting them to tender.
The restricted route may be used for non-standard or large goods and service requirements, where it would not be economic for all parties concerned if too large a tender field was invited to bid.
Negotiated tender
Occasionally we use negotiated tenders. These cover complex projects such as major redevelopments or where a previous procurement process did not yield a successful outcome.
Competitive Dialogue
This process is used in complex projects when the contracting authority is not able to objectively define the technical means capable of satisfying its needs or objectives.
