Information for suppliers

Tender opportunities and contracts register

We purchase a variety of goods, works and services to support our operational delivery.

To access current tender opportunities, please visit Suffolk Sourcing.

Our contracts register

Read our contracts register to see who is currently supplying the Council, as well as the length and value of our contracts.

Bid for public sector contracts

The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce have put together a Diagnostic tool, which is designed to help local businesses who are interested in securing a public sector contract(s).

Transforming public sector procurement (the Procurement Act 2023)

The government is transforming procurement for the public sector via the Procurement Act 2023 (which comes into effect on 24 February 2025). The changes will help to make better use of public resources to deliver better public services, and grow the economy.

One of the key changes is the introduction of the Central Digital Platform.

Register with the Central Digital Platform

To bid for business with the public sector after the new legislation goes live, you will need to be registered with the Central Digital Platform.

If you are a supplier, there is dedicated Central Digital Platform guidance for suppliers, which includes webinars, guides, and videos that will help you prepare for doing business under the new regime.

The government have also published The Procurement Act 2023 - a short guide for suppliers, further information is available on the following website - Information and guidance for suppliers - GOV.UK. A document named Benefits for Prospective Suppliers to the Public Sector sets out how the reforms will deliver a range of benefits for suppliers - of all sizes - who want to do business with, and deliver contracts for, the public sector. Dedicated Supplier Knowledge Drops videos will give you an overview of the key changes, with versions for SMEs and VCSEs.

National Procurement Policy Statement

A new National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) was laid in Parliament on 13 February 2025. It will come into force alongside the new Procurement Act. Thousands of small businesses to benefit from new government buying rules, boosting local jobs, growth and innovation - GOV.UK

For more information, please visit the government's Transforming Public Procurement webpages.

Purchase orders

Read our purchase order terms and conditions.

Social value

We are committed to embedding social value into our culture. We aim to achieve measurable social value within our contracts, to increase their and our positive social impact.

Please read our Social Value Policy to learn more about our approach to delivering social value, in line with our priorities as an organisation.

If you wish to contract with us, we will ask you to outline what you are able to offer in addition to the contract specification. Within your bid response, your social value offer will be evaluated alongside the price and quality criteria.

For further information - or if you'd like to discuss our approach to social value - please email Katrina Browning, Head of Procurement: katrina.browning@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk.

Environmental ask

In 2019, we recognised and declared a climate emergency. We made a commitment to investigating the ways in which we could reduce our greenhouse gas emissions - as well as supporting Suffolk's county-wide aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

To reduce the negative environmental impact of our procurement of goods, services and works, we will include environmental factors in our requirements specifications. We will also evaluate the environmental response of bidders for our contracts.

We ask our suppliers to commit to working in line with our environmental ask, and to work towards becoming carbon neutral.

Read our climate change advice for businesses.

Modern slavery

We are working with the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership to tackle modern slavery. Our Modern Slavery Policy outlines our commitment to eradicate modern slavery from our communities, and within our supply chains.

We recognise that modern slavery and human trafficking can occur anywhere in the supply chain - both in the UK, and internationally - regardless of the size of the supplier, or the products or services being purchased.

If you wish to contract with the Council, or our supply chain, then you will need to provide evidence that you operate ethically, work proactively to address modern slavery issues, and meet the requirements in the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Organisations with a business (or part of) in the UK which supply goods or services, and have an annual turnover of over £36 million, must produce an annual slavery and human trafficking statement. This statement must set out the steps taken during the financial year to make sure that modern slavery is not occurring within their supply chain, or within their own organisation.

The government have published Slavery and human trafficking in supply chains: guidance for businesses.