Durham County Council’s Corporate Procurement team are holding a series of four workshops aimed at suppliers, and potential suppliers, of goods, works or services to the Council.
These events are open to any organisation, including large, medium and small organisations from both private sector and third sector, who may be interested in doing business with the Council. The sessions are delivered directly by Durham's procurement officers – and they are free to attend.
Details of the workshops are as follows:
Session 1: An Overview of Procurement
23rd January 2014, 2.30pm – 4.30pm, County Hall, Durham
Of interest to organisations of all sizes, this session will look at:
- An overview of the procurement process, including:
- The legal background to public procurement
- NEW: Forthcoming changes to EU and UK public procurement regulations
- How public sector procurement differs from private sector procurement
- Durham County Council’s approach
- Types of bidding organisation – including consortia, partnerships, and special purpose vehicles
- How Durham assess a bidding organisation’s:
- financial standing
- insurance cover
- health & safety
- Quick Quotes for contracts under £50,000
Session 2: Pre-Qualification29th January 2014, 2pm – 4.30pm, County Hall, Durham
Focussing on contracts over £50,000 in value, this session will look at:
- Durham County Council’s harmonised Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)
- Questions you may be asked at PQQ stage
- Tips on completing the PQQ
- Measurable evidence – demonstrating your competence
- How PQQ responses are evaluated.
Session 3: Invitation To Tender3rd February 2014, 2pm – 4.30pm, County Hall, Durham
Focussing on contracts over £50,000 in value, this session will look at:
- Durham County Council’s harmonised Invitation To Tender (ITT)
- Questions you may be asked at ITT stage
- Tips on completing the ITT
- How quality is evaluated at ITT stage
- How prices are evaluated.
Session 4: Sustainable Procurement and Social Value6th February 2014, 2pm – 4.30pm, County Hall, Durham
This session will look at:
- NEW: The Public Services (Social Value) Act
- Durham County Council’s approach to sustainable procurement and social value
- How an organisation can become more sustainable
- Answering sustainability questions in the tender process.
Each of the sessions will include group work activity and discussion aimed at reinforcing your understanding.
There will also be a question and answer session at the end of each workshop.
How to register: You can register for all four events, or just those which interest you. If only able to attend one event it is strongly recommended you attend Session One – “An Overview of Procurement” as this covers the basics that all potential bidders should know about.
Due to anticipated demand Durham can offer a maximum of two places per organisation.
For further details, and to register, please contact:
Corporate Procurement, Durham County Council
Tel: 03000 265 428
Email: corporate.procurement@durham.gov.uk
Download the event pdf: Durham Supplier Workshops Jan-Feb 2014