How we buy

As a public sector organisation we use a variety of purchasing methods, and often use competitive tendering to meet our needs.

We buy most goods and services through competitive tender procedures unless there are good reasons not to. Such reasons could be the availability of other pre-tendered government frameworks .

We buy lower value goods and services by more informal methods such as ad hoc purchase orders or by Visa card.

If another government department has recently conducted a tender exercise for similar goods or services, we will think about collaborating with that department to avoid the time and expense of a repeat tender exercise using the arrangement (if appropriate) as it offers best value for money.