Procurement

We spend over £70 million a year obtaining a range of supplies, services and works from the external market. We do this to ensure competition, openness, fairness and accountability. It is our duty to secure value for money in our commissioning and procurement activities. 

Procurement strategy

Our  Commissioning Procurement Strategy 2019-2024 (PDF 1MB) sets out how we intend to work with partners and suppliers to deliver good quality, value for money services, works and supplies. Our  Commissioning and Procurement Standing Orders 2019-2024 (PDF 2MB) support the strategy.

Tendering for work

We advertise tenders on the Supply Hertfordshire e-tendering portal. You can download tender documents and submit correspondence about tenders on the portal. Suppliers must register to use the portal. You will receive alerts about relevant tenders from ourselves and other Hertfordshire authorities.

For more information, please click on the headings below.

Expand all

  • What we buy

    What we buy

    Our spend is split into five categories: Construction, Environmental, Facilities Management, ICT and Professional Services. The data below show how much we spent in each category (figures for 2022-2023):

    Construction

    Construction spend for 2022-2023
    Sub categoryNet amount
    Building construction materials£7,673,211.18
    Highway equipment and materials£341, 057.82
    Works - construction, repair and maintenance£44,378,568.24
    Total£52,392,837.24

    Environmental

    Environmental spend 2022-2023
    Sub categoryNet amount
    Cemetery and crematorium£17,643.00
    Cleaning and janitorial£215,120.66
    Clothing£37,089.17
    Environmental services£4,002,373.86
    Health and safety£51,824.97
    Horticultural£635,234.20
    Public transport£317,165.29
    Sport and playground equipment and maintenance£391,314.96
    Street and traffic management£739,644.38
    Vehicle management£1,737,518.28
    Total£8,144,928.77

    Facilities management

    Facilities management spend 2022-2023
    Sub categoryNet amount
    Catering£52,853.48
    Facilities and management services£2,863,523.75
    Furniture and soft furnishings£2,768.93
    Mail services£226,208.94
    Stationery£11,064.64
    Total£3,156,419.74

    ICT

    ICT spend 2022-2023
    Sub categoryNet amount
    Information communication technology£2,765,770.57
    Total£2,765,770.57

    Professional services

    Professional services spend 2022-2023
    Sub categoryNet amount
    Art and leisure services£336,361.08
    Consultancy£1,664,899.90
    Education£31,752.97
    Financial services£5,800,251.97
    Healthcare£104,963.57
    Human resources£7,202,717.58
    Legal services£247,197.56
    Social community care supplies and services£689,473.28
    Total£16,077,617.91
  • How to become a supplier

    Register your organisation on Supply Hertfordshire’s e-tendering portal to view our current opportunities (plus those of other public bodies across Hertfordshire) and bid for tenders and quotations:

    View tenders and bid

    Other ways to become a supplier

    For smaller value purchases (under £25,000) we will approach suppliers directly for quotations. We will also use a purchase card (corporate credit card) where appropriate.

    For companies new to the public sector, the Government website provides lots of support and guidance.

    If I am a small or local supplier do I have to take part in the tender process?

    Yes. Anyone wishing to supply us, regardless of size, must take part in the tender process. We must comply with both UK and EU procurement regulations.

  • Current contract opportunities

    You can find our current tender opportunities (over £75,000) on Supply Hertfordshire’s e-tendering portal. You don't have to register to view opportunities, but you will need to register to express an interest and submit a bid.

    View current opportunities

  • What to expect when tendering

    It may seem daunting to have to complete an online tender if you haven’t done one before. We try to design all our tenders to make it simple and easy to complete.

    Here's what to expect:

    • Register on the Supply Hertfordshire’s e-tendering portal to express an interest in an opportunity
    • Download and complete the relevant documents. Upload any documents we request and publish a response to us
    • We will set a closing date and you will need to publish your response in good time of this date
    • You can use the message function in the portal to send us questions, queries and information. We can also send you information and clarifications
    • We will inform you online of every decision we make during the process.

    There are help guides in the system as well as a helpdesk that you can call any time. We've taken out the printing costs or the worry of whether your documents will arrive in time.

  • Receiving orders and payments

    Payment queries

    Call us on 01442 228000 and ask for the ‘Payments Team’. You will need to quote your purchase order number or vendor number if you have them.

    Orders

    We have a "No Purchase Order No Pay" policy. This is to:

    • reduce processing times
    • streamline the process for payment of invoices
    • give greater control over ordering and financial spend.

    All valid purchase order numbers are seven digits long and start with a '4'.

    You should not accept a request for goods, works or services without a valid purchase order number. You will receive this by email.

    Only invoice us when you have the purchase order number and have supplied the goods and/or services.

    Our purchase orders will state the goods or services required, quantity and price. The delivery and invoice addresses will be different but marked.

    Our purchase orders will quote your unique vendor number. If you need to contact us you should quote this number.

    Help us to pay on time - invoices

    Your invoices should include:

    • a valid purchase order number
    • your business name and address
    • full details of what has been supplied.

    Please provide your company registration number, Unique Taxpayer Reference number and/or National Insurance number if you are registered with the HMRC for the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS).

    Send your invoice as soon as possible after the dispatch of the goods or services you have provided.

    You must send your invoice to the "Invoice to" address shown on our purchase order.

    Ensure descriptions, prices, quantities match the purchase order.

    Submit valid VAT invoices (unless you are not registered for VAT).

    We pay all invoices using BACS.

    Payment terms

    Our payment terms are 30 days unless otherwise stated.

  • Terms and conditions

    Purchase order terms and conditions

    These terms and conditions apply to all purchases of goods, services and works between ourselves and your business as a supplier, service provider or contractor. Please read them carefully as they affect your rights and liabilities.

    All our purchase orders are covered by our terms and conditions shown below:

    Supply of goods, works or services under a valid purchase order constitutes your acceptance of these conditions.

    Standard terms and conditions

    If you are asked to sign up to either of the terms and conditions set out below, these will take precedence over any terms and conditions on our purchase order.

    For further details on terms and conditions, please call 01442 228000 and ask for Corporate Procurement or email procurement@dacorum.gov.uk.

Contract register

We have a wide range of supplies, services and works contracts in force at any one time. Our contract register details key contracts. We update and publish this every quarter.

Transparency and open data

We understand the importance of being open and transparent about the decisions we take and how and where we spend money.

For more information, please visit our Where we spend money page.

Contact us

Email: procurement@dacorum.gov.uk
Telephone: 01442 228000 and ask for "Corporate Procurement"
Address:
Corporate Procurement
Dacorum Borough Council
The Forum
Marlowes
Hemel Hempstead
Herts
HP1 1DN

Page Last Updated: Thursday, 08 February 2024 at 12:31 PM