Northumberland County Council has been concentrating mainly on the economic issues over the last few years, especially towards better communication and support to local suppliers.  In July 2007 they hosted a supplier engagement event entitled ‘Raising the Game’.  Feedback was excellent and as a result another event took place in December 2007 for the third sector.

Northumberland County Council has already made changes over the years by reviewing procurement options – using innovation in re packaging tenders.  Now as sustainable procurement is a big item on the Governments agenda, this now forces the public sector to take the ‘economic’, ‘social’ and ‘environmental’ elements into consideration in all that is procured.

Still in keeping with their aims towards ‘economic’ issues, they now have a programme of quarterly workshops, which will offer advice and guidance to SME’s and the third sector, specifically around the tender evaluation process.  Northumberland County Council advise suppliers who want to do business with NCC to register ‘free’ on the electronic tendering ProContract System (North East Purchasing Organisation portal) at www.nepoportal.org as all their business opportunities over £50k go out to tender via this system.

Northumberland County Council would like to build up a profile of local suppliers who want to do business with them.  If you complete the SME Business Registration e-Form, this will ensure that as a supplier you will be invited to attend future workshops and events.  Although this is NOT an approved supplier list, it will give NCC an opportunity to know the supply base when seeking quotations for business under £50k.

For more information – please visit the Northumberland County Council website at: www.northumberland.gov.uk

Northumberland County Council also leads the Go-Wansbeck Procurement Centre Project along with the North East Chamber of Commerce.  The Procurement Centre project aims to challenge both the public and private sector to work together to make the most of business opportunities arising from public sector expenditure in Wansbeck, Castle Morpeth and Blyth Valley.  Businesses and organisations in South East Northumberland can access procurement opportunities by registering ‘free’ on the Tender Tap system and quotation level work by accessing the Opportunities Publisher System.

For more information on the Procurement Centre and to access business opportunities, please visit www.go-tenders.co.uk .