Our buying arrangements are mainly conducted on an individual departmental basis. We have a centrally positioned strategic procurement function, whose job is to co-ordinate contracts for commonly bought goods and services with a view to reducing costs and delivering savings.

All contracts tendered and awarded must comply with UK law and our financial regulations and contract procedure rules. These govern our contracting activities and lay down procedures for obtaining quotations, tenders and the awarding of contracts.

We must let contracts for the supply of goods, works and services in accordance with the EU Public Procurement Directives. These directives have been incorporated into UK law.

We generally use a restricted procedure for these tenders, involving a pre-qualification phase, with tenders being invited only from those applicants who meet certain predetermined criteria. This will include amongst other things:

• Financial stability
• Quality criteria
• Experience
• Environmental factors

Suitable suppliers who meet the pre-qualification criteria will be sent tender documents. The ultimate decision of who wins council contracts will be based on a robust analysis of the tender submissions. This will be based predominantly on, but not limited to:

• Total cost of ownerships (life cycle costing)
• Quality
• Sustainability
• Maintenance and support

Dependent on the type of goods or services being bought and the complexity of any subsequent contracts, any number of other deciding factors may be used.

Any criteria used for selecting successful suppliers will be fair and transparent.

Where contract values fall outside of the financial limits of the EU tendering process the selection criteria used will be of a similar nature, in line with the council's financial regulations and contracts procedure rules.