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Procurement

Contents

Our Procurement Process

Tendering Process

Advertising Contracts

Fraud and Corruption

Thresholds

Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

The Procurement Act 2023

Rushcliffe Borough Council Procurement Strategy

Our Procurement Process

Nottinghamshire County Council provide procurement services on behalf of Rushcliffe Borough Council. If you have any questions on our procurement process please contact corporate.procurement@nottscc.gov.uk

Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) has its own set of standing orders and financial regulations which regulate how it conducts its business. In addition, the Council must comply with the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) and Procurement Regulations 2024 for those contracts advertised after 24 February 2025 and exceeding the procurement thresholds. The Council’s financial regulations state that anything over £75,000 must be tendered. All tenders at RBC follow the same process utilising NCC’s E-Tendering portal.

Below threshold contracts are defined within the new Procurement Act 23 and there are various changes for local authorities to comply with along with new transparency notices. More information can be found on GOV.UK Below-Threshold Contracts Guidance. 

Rushcliffe Contracts Register can be found here.

Tendering Process

Depending on the value of the contract the procedures are as follows:

Purchases below £10,000 – One quote

Purchases between £10,000 and £25,000 (excluding VAT) – At least one quote in writing but advisable to obtain at least three

Purchases between £25,000 and £75,000 (excluding VAT) – At least three quotes should be sought in writing

Purchases between £75,000 (excluding VAT) and the works/goods and services statutory threshold – Subject to a tender process and must be advertised on Central Digital Platform (CDP). Guidance: Central Digital Platform and Publication of Information (HTML) - GOV.UK

Advertising contracts

Details of current procurement opportunities (where formally advertised) can be found on:

The Procurement Act 2023 came into force on 24 February 2025 and from this date Local Authorities now use the governments Central Digital Platform (CDP) to publish all notices, documents and other information required during a procurement process and throughout the lifetime of a contract.

Suppliers are required to register on the central Digital Platform and use the Supplier Information System to submit their basic business information. When they identify an opportunity on CDP, they then share this information when they participate in a procurement

The Council is not obliged to advertise contracts below £75,000 but if the Council chooses to do so, the advert will be placed on CDP before any other medium.

If a contract is likely to exceed £75,000 it must go to tender. This is required by our financial regulations. All RBC tenders are done through East Midlands Tenders.

Below threshold contracts are defined within the new Procurement Act 2023 and there are various changes for local authorities to comply with along with new transparency notices. More information can be found on GOV.UK Below-Threshold Contracts Guidance.

Rushcliffe’s pipeline of upcoming contracts for the 18 months will be available by 31 May 2025.

Fraud and corruption

Fraud within the public sector costs the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds each year. Detected cases of fraud and corruption are on the increase especially in the current economic climate. Rushcliffe Borough Council is committed to fighting fraud and corruption and actively encourages reporting by anyone who suspects fraud or who has any concerns about any aspect of the Council's work.

Where to find help

If you know of anyone committing any kind of fraud, whether an employee of the council, a member of the public or a company who may be contracted to work for the council then you need to report your suspicions. Referrals will be treated in the strictest confidence. See more information in the Whistleblowing Policy.

Procurement thresholds as at 1 January 2024 (Procurement Act 2023 Thresholds)

These threshold amounts are inclusive of VAT.

EU Procurement Thresholds

EU Procurement Thresholds
title Supplies Services Works / Concessions Light Touch Regime
Other public sector contracting authorities £214,904 £214,904 £5,372,904 £663,540

 

Aggregation rules for establishing whether or not value exceeds relevant threshold

Where a single work involves more than one contract the estimated value of all contracts must be aggregated to decide whether the threshold is reached. Where the threshold is reached each of the works contracts will be covered by the rules except small contracts (known as small lots) the value of which falls below the de minimis level provided for in the regulations.

In determining whether the threshold has been or is likely to be reached for public supplies and services contracts the rules require aggregation:

Of the estimated value of separate contracts for meeting a single requirement; and

In particular defined circumstances, where a series of contracts or a renewable contract is entered into for supplies/services of the same type during a twelve-month period.

View the various public sector thresholds along with general information on thresholds.

Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Social value is the wider financial and non-financial impact to the wellbeing of individuals, communities and the environment from public sector contracts, over and above the delivery of services directly at no extra cost. Where appropriate the Council is committed to working with local suppliers not withstanding the achievement of a number of other procurement objectives. When considering procurement evaluation process areas such as localism, added value and/or sustainability factors should also be taken into account. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a major role in creating jobs and generating income for those on low incomes; they foster economic growth, social stability and are a source of innovation. Equally the Voluntary, Community Social Enterprise “Third Sector” should also be considered where appropriate.

The Procurement Act 2023

On 24 February 2025, the rules that shape how public bodies buy goods and services changed. The Procurement Act 2023 will improve and streamline the way procurement is done, and benefit prospective suppliers of all sizes, particularly small businesses, start-ups and social enterprises.

More details can be found at procurement regime (GOV.UK website).

The new act is a UK law that regulates public procurement by contracting authorities. Its aim is to improve the country's public procurement system. The intention is to make it quicker, simpler, more transparent, and better able to meet the UK's needs.

Suppliers can assess how these changes affect them if they are a supplier who already work with or are interested in working with us.

The Procurement Act 2023 Short Guide for Suppliers (opens as a .pdf)

There has been previously guidance issued including a Short Video for suppliers (YouTube) together with a short animation for suppliers (YouTube), including one for SMEs and VCSEs (YouTube) which will be a useful for first step.

The "knowledge drops"(GOV.UK website) at the official Transforming Public Procurement site are designed "to provide a high-level overview on the changes" and are in three parts for suppliers and a further three parts for SMEs/VCSEs along with factsheets on the new regime.

Cabinet Office had previously issued some early guidance for suppliers (GOV.UK website) which we recommend suppliers reviewing.

Additionally there is also detailed guidance information on the learning modules that Public Sector buyers have been undertaking and which provide a useful overview.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of the new Act please contact the Procurement Team:

 

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