1. Public Sector Opportunities for Local Businesses

2. Alwyn Davies, Worcestershire County Council Chairman

3. Construction, Building Technologies & The Built EnvironmentDave MeseckSector Development DirectorBusiness Link in the West Midlands

4. Procurement • Two way Session • OJEU • OJEC • PSL • Barriers

5. Existing Partnerships • West Midlands Centre for Construction Excellence (WMCCE) • Build Up North Staffs • Find it in Sandwell • Find it in Urban Living • Solihull • Worcester • Hereford • Shropshire

6. Michael Howard,Worcestershire County Council

7. Worcestershire • Two Tier Authority • Worcestershire County Council • Six District Councils • Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service

8. What we purchase • County • Services • Social Services: Homecare Contracts - Residential Care Contracts - Children’s placements / Transport / Waste Disposal • Utilities • Goods • Works • Maintenance and Refurbishment / Works to Schools /Engineering Works to Roads and Footways

9. What we purchase • Districts • Goods • Computer Hardware-Software /Office Stationery / Equipment / furniture / Vehicles • Services • Advertising / Consultancy / Agency Staff / Telecommunications • Utilities • Works • Property Maintenance / Small Construction/ Alteration Contracts

10. What we purchase • Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue • Often goods and services via regional or national framework contracts such as those frameworks developed by Firebuy and the Office of Government Commerce. • For procurement outside of these arrangements,  goods and services are purchased either via an advertised competitive tender process or for less expensive purchases on the basis of competitive quotations from suppliers / contractors.

11. Purchase differently according to value • For example • Goods – an appropriate number of quotes • Services – competitive tender e.g. vulnerable people in Worcestershire • Works – competitive tender • Contract awarded on outcomes more than just price

12. All requirements greater than £5,000 must be advertised on the Council’s website • For requirements below £5,000 an appropriate number of quotations should be obtained • £5,000 to £20,000 requires a minimum number of 3 written quotations • For requirements between £20,00 to 139,893, a minimum of 4 formal tenders or written quotations • For requirements greater than £139,893 formal tender. In the case of open and restricted procedures to which the EU Rules apply in full requires advertisement in the OJEU

13. How to do Business • All tenders above £5,000 are advertised on the Councils E-tendering portal • The deadline for replying to tenders will be indicated on the contract advertisement • All interested organisations should send their applications and any relevant information required to the specified contact

14. Formal tender The application form is split into a number of sections • Company • Technical • Financial • Health and Safety • Equalities • Sustainability

15. Actions we are taking to help suppliers • Putting out tenders in plain English • Ensure suppliers are aware of opportunities • How to do business guides • Reduce the information we ask from suppliers • Splitting contracts into lots where possible without adding additional cost • Looking for local expertise and knowledge • Looking for innovation

16. Try not to disqualify on technical grounds but common errors are • Missing the tender submission deadline • Not providing the information requested

17. The benefits of working with the council Getting a contract with the public sector may not be as easy as the private sector but the advantages are • Immediate payment for undisputed invoices • Certainty of payment • Certainty of work over the length of contract

18. Thank you for listening Questions