This page describes how we manage supplier relationships, detailing standard terms and conditions of purchase, procurement rules and guidance for prospective suppliers on registering and participating in our framework agreements.
West Nottinghamshire College standard terms and conditions of purchase
The supply of all goods or services are subject the college’s terms and conditions, as per below:
Suppliers are requested to formally agree to the terms and conditions prior to engagement.
Supplier opportunities within the public sector
Public Contracts Regulations
Further Education Colleges are required to comply with directives which are set out in the Procurement Act 2023. The purpose is to encourage open, fair and transparent competition which is delivered via competitive tendering.
If the college spend exceeds the Financial thresholds, the college must carry out a full tender which must be advertised using the government “Find a Tender” service.
Thresholds apply to a total contract value, which for calculation purposes is usually determined over a 48-month period. These thresholds, including VAT, are:
- Supplies and Services - £214,904
- Works - £5,372,609
Further competition and the Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC)
Due to the college spend exceeding the above thresholds, in many product and service areas, we are obliged to carry out most of the college requirements through a full tender.
However, the college can run a ‘further competition’ tender through a consortium, such as the Crescent Purchasing Consortium (CPC). The CPC is a national purchasing consortium, owned by, and run on behalf of the Further Education sector. The CPC produces compliant tendered purchasing framework agreements which cover a wide variety of products and services specific to the sector, and continue to develop this portfolio in line with member demands. Membership of the CPC is free for FE institutions and academies and has over 10,000 member institutions nationwide, who access the framework agreements.
Becoming a supplier to the CPC
To become a CPC supplier, it is not a case of going through a quick approval process to be put on a 'preferred suppliers' list, but it is necessary to be awarded a place on one of the framework agreements.
The CPC website shows the framework agreements that have been tendered and are currently in place, the Lots and the suppliers that are currently on the frameworks.
It also shows the forthcoming tender opportunities for new frameworks or refreshing existing ones. It is necessary to find a framework that is relevant to your organisation, and the length of the framework, to assess when it is due to be re-tendered.
The CPC, like many other procurement bodies, use a tendering and correspondence portal with any potential suppliers. To have sight of the Invitations to Tender, when they are released, it is necessary to register your organisation, and a main point of contact, usually the person who carries out the bids, on the CPC MultiQuote portal.
The process of re-tendering a framework usually starts 6 months prior to the end date of the current contract as identified on the CPC website. An Invitation to Tender (ITT) will be released on the In-Tend portal.
If the CPC does not currently have a framework agreement relevant to your organisation, it is also possible to keep a look out for any future relevant tenders through registration on In-Tend.
The CPC can be contacted at:
Please note: the CPC doesn't hold relationships with suppliers outside of frameworks, and will only put together new frameworks at the request of our members.
Electronic tendering
The College carries out most of its tenders via the electronic tendering portal 'In-Tend'. Suppliers registering will have access not only to those further competitions and tenders run by West Nottinghamshire College, but those of other colleges and institutions who also use the software.
Contracts Finder
Contracts Finder is a free service for businesses, government buyers and the public, and allows access to live opportunities, tender and contract documentation published by government departments and agencies.
Local public sector advertised tender opportunities
Some public sector opportunities can also be found on locally based websites such as those below
- Mansfield District Council - Procurement
- Nottinghamshire County Council - Procurement
- Derbyshire County Council - Procurement