Procurement

One of Medway Council's key objectives is to support the local economy and create a level playing field when council services are exposed to competition. Establishing a set of principles against which the council and its local small suppliers can operate is also one of the milestones in the National Procurement Strategy (NPS) (www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/efficiencybetter/nationalprocurementprogramme/nationalprocurementstrategy).

A series of meetings was held with the Kent and Medway Federation of Small Business (FSB) between July 2004 and April 2005 to agree the concordat. The FSB has been extensively involved in the development of the council’s procurement pages on this website.

The concordat aims to encourage a mixed range of suppliers to help develop and stimulate a varied and competitive marketplace. It sets out the actions that Medway Council will take to make its contracts more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and how they will respond to place themselves in a more favourable position to compete for council business.

A statement of principles to encourage effective trade between local authorities and small businesses

Introduction

Medway Council is committed to delivering locally the National Strategy for Local Government Procurement. The strategy asks local authorities to adopt a small and medium-sized enterprise-friendly procurement concordat and to encourage a mixed range of suppliers in order to help develop and stimulate a varied and competitive marketplace. The concordat sets out the actions that Medway Council will take to make its contracts more accessible to SMEs.

Although the principles should relate to all SMEs, the concordat is particularly focused on small businesses of less than 50 employees.

The council recognises the important contribution that small businesses can make to the delivery of public services and the vital role these businesses play in the national and local economy. It is committed to making the most of the benefits offered by them.

Underlying principles

Contracts are awarded in order to support the best value delivery of local government services. Medway Council will deliver value for money in contract decisions; this includes considering quality, longer term cost and benefits as well as initial price (most economically advantageous tender).

The council will make appropriate use of its legal powers, including the power to promote the economic, social and environmental well-being of its community.

All tender processes and contract awards will comply with EU Public Procurement Directives, Medway Council’s Contract Rules and the principles of non-discrimination, equal treatment and transparency and the council's duties under UK law.

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