How to find contracts
Procurement opportunities can be found on websites, such as:
Contract Finder
A free Government tool allowing businesses to search the market and find new opportunities or advertise procurement to source the best suppliers.
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MyTenders
A free platform that allows public buyers to publish contracts and give suppliers easy access to published tenders and opportunities.
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Proactis
Tendring website where Essex Council seek goods and services over £100k.
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Register as a supplier
Businesses can register as suppliers on various websites, such as:
Constructionline
Buyers and procurement teams can use Constructionline to identify and source construction suppliers.
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SafeContractor
Health and Safety Accreditation which can be recognised by contractors, suppliers and big brands. Connecting accredited contractors and suppliers to buyers.
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Procurement Reform Bill
Information for Suppliers
The Procurement Bill currently passing through Parliament, should make it easier for businesses to enter public sector supply chains and this will benefit SME’s/Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSE’s). Please use the following links to the GOV.UK website for further information.
Transforming Public Procurement Benefits for SuppliersHarlow Council
Harlow Council uses a range of different suppliers to deliver its services. Currently Harlow Council spends around £73 million and uses 1,300 suppliers. Around £33 million of that spend has been through local Harlow suppliers, with a further £10 million in Essex and Hertfordshire.
The Council will only spend in order to deliver its services such as the following:
- Council housing
- Regeneration – including house building
- Property portfolio – Civic Centre, Latton Bush Business Centre, commercial tenancies
- Parks – including the Town Park and Pets’ Corner
- Waste collection
- Environmental health – food hygiene, licensing, aids and adaptions
- Planning and Building Control
- Community services – Community Safety, Harlow Playhouse, Harlow Museum
- Communication, finance, legal
Procurement rules
The Council must follow its procurement rules when procuring goods and services. These include Contract Standing Orders, Governance Expectations and Financial Regulations. Foundations underpinning public procurement include social value, equalities, prompt payment, anti-bribery, modern slavery, GDPR & Freedom of Information and equal treatment of suppliers.
Harlow Gilston Garden Town
Aims to deliver 10,000 homes across seven villages in the Gilston / Harlow area by 2033. Enabling an integrated sustainable transport networks and creating 20,000 jobs.
The HGGT will utilise local supply chains and create more opportunities for local businesses. Find out how your business can prepare for procurement opportunities.
Essex County Council
Any Opportunities to provide goods and services which are over £100k in value are advertised on the Proactis website. Essex Country Council also publish a current opportunities spreadsheet which highlights their latest procurement opportunities. You can view the spreadsheet and other helpful information on their website.
NHS
The NHS advertises several tender opportunities through the Atamis eTendering portal.
Once your organisation has registered, the system will notify you of opportunities that you can review and respond to. The system will also enable you to accept contracts electronically and manage contract performance and variations through the system.
Rainbow Services
Rainbow Services is the communities and voluntary sector infrastructure organisation in Harlow, who can advise you on working with the local community to meet your corporate responsibilities. Such as sponsoring sports clubs, planting trees or volunteering days.
Useful Links
Tools for successful procurement
There are lots of requirements that businesses need to meet to ensure they can win public and private contracts. The links below provide helpful tips and resources to support successful bids and tenders.
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If your business uses or stores personal information you must follow data protection rules. This applies to information kept on staff, customers and account holders. Displaying a strong data protection process can help secure more procurement. The government has issued advice and guidance on data protection and your business.
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Acas Working for Everyone provide free HR templates for businesses including letters, forms, policies and HR documents. They are free to download and cover business aspects such as redundancy, disciplinary, appraisals, diversity, equality and more.
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Access a free policy template which can be adapted to your business to cover equality, diversity and inclusion.
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Understanding and preventing modern slavery can protect your business and help in showing social value within procurement processes. The SME Modern Slavery Tool Kit provides free advice on mitigating the risk of modern slavery.
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Government guidance for construction companies on sourcing and contracting public works projects and programmes. Understand how public services assess, process and manage procurement within construction, helping your business navigate public procurement and win more business.
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In 2019, the UK legislated to introduce a target for achieving at least a 100% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, this target is known as the Net Zero Target. View the Government’s Net Zero Strategy to understand more about sustainability in construction and how it can aid procurement.
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The Government website provides useful information for supplies looking to procure contracts. Advice includes finding and bidding on contracts, social value, help for suppliers, procurement teams and more.
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Are you thinking of selling products or services internationally? A range of government programmes are available which offer new opportunities, country specific advice, specialist exporting training and more.
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Business Directory
Want to find other businesses based in Harlow? Look and search for other local businesses using the Harlow business directory.
Business DirectoryWant to know more?
Contact Harlow Council’s Economic Development Team who can answer your questions and queries.
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