Our procurement process

Advertising contracts

We usually select contractors by advertising contracts. We invite businesses to either submit tenders or to express an interest in tendering for contracts.

All our contract opportunities are advertised on:

If a contract is likely to be more than £25,000 it must go to tender. This is required by our financial regulations. All Nottinghamshire County Council tenders are done through East Mids Tenders.

The Procurement Act 2023

The UK’s exit from the European Union (EU), has created an opportunity to develop and implement a new procurement regime (GOV.UK website). As a result of the Public Procurement Law changing, we want to keep our suppliers both supported and up to date.

On the 12th of September 2024, Cabinet Office announced that the Procurement Act 2023 will now commence on 24 February 2025 - a delay of four months from the original go-live date to allow time for a new National Procurement Policy Statement. This will replace the existing regulations for any new procurement process started after this date.

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 start to assess how these changes will 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)

Secondary legislation has now also been finalised and has started the notice period to allow authorities and suppliers to prepare. The Council is currently in the process of completing the relevant training modules and sessions being provided by the Cabinet Office and reviewing the guidance which is still being developed by Cabinet Office as well.

Once the legislation is live you will find, new rules, regulations, and notices as to how councils will setup bidding opportunities in accordance with this new legislation.

There has been previously guidance issued including a Short Video for suppliers (YouTube) together with a short animation (YouTube) for suppliers, including one for SMEs and VCSEs (YouTube) which will be a useful for first step. There is also a guidance document that summarises the new Procurement Act, next steps, and timelines, outlines the support which will be made available, and includes suggestions for initial steps to help everyone prepare.

The first official training materials for the new Procurement Act were published on 5 December 2023 for Suppliers. 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 they have also released detailed guidance information on the learning modules that Public Sector buyers have been undertaking and which provide a useful overview.

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

View our Supplier Communication letter discussing the impact of the Procurement Act 2023

In the meantime, if you would like to discuss any aspect of the new Act please contact the Procurement Team at corporate.procurement@nottscc.gov.uk or the dedicated Transforming Public Procurement helpdesk at procurement.reform@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

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