Useful Reference Material and Links
ACEVO - Making Public Procurement Work for Suppliers
Published April 2010 this document covers legal rules and obligations to public procurement. Follow the link
Successful Commissioning - How to secure value for money through better financial relationships with third sector organisations
Published by the National Audit Office, March 2010, this guidance aims to help local commissioners in the public sector get better value for money from third sector organisations. It also aims to help third sector organisations become more infomred about the commissioning process, and about what they should expect from financial relationships with the public sector.
The guidance is endorsed by the Audit Commission, the Commission for the Compact, the Department of Communities and Local Goverment, the Department of Health, HM Treasurey, NCVO and the Office of the Third Sector. wow!
Follow the link www.nao.org.uk/successfulcommissioning to the National Audit Office website.
On 25th Jan 2010 the government launched an on line procurement course "Winning the Contract" Follow the link to find out more: http://www1.learndirect-business.com/business-courses/winning-the-contract/ http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/procurement
EU Procurement Thresholds from 1 January 2010
Details of the thresholds from 1 January 2010, follow link. Figures are net of VAT.
An easy read guide to Commissioning, procurement,tendering and contracts. A starting point
'How the community sector organisations can be ready for commissioning' Children & Young People January 2010
This guide has been written for community sector organisations to help them better understand how local authority commissioners are working to imporve outcomes for children, young people and families and how they can make themselves "commissioning ready".
Funding Information North East Dec 2009
http://www.fine.org.uk/contracked.htm A Funding information North East publication on 'all things' contract. Follow the link to find out how to sign up for regular updates.
NCVO/NAVCA - Procurement Guide - Pathways through the Maze - Nov 2009
The guide provides information and guidance for TSOs wishing to engage with the public sector and understand the legal framework of procurement processes. Pathways through the Maze
Find out what contracts are available - it's a good idea to register for automatic alerts.
Public sector contracts under £100k go to http://www.supply2.gov.uk
Public sector contracts over EU threshold http://www.ted.europa.eu/
For Northumberland County Council contracts under £50k https://forms.northumberland.gov.uk/AF3/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=CEMrMb45pY5
For Northumberland County Council contracts over £50k register with North East Purchasing Organisation portal www.nepoportal.org
For NHS contracts register with NHS SID http://www.pasa.nhs.uk/PASAWeb/NHSprocurement/NHSsid/NHSsidforsuppliers.htm
If you are interested in forming a consortia or collaborative partnership follow the link for useful resources. Consortia
REFERENCE MATERIAL
Releasing the strength of our communities - A sustainable community strategy for Northumberland to 2012 http://www.nsp.org.uk
Northumberland Compact Funding & Procurement Code is now complemented by the National Commissioning Code of good practice www.northumberlandvcs.org.uk/pages/compact.php
Guidance has recently been produced to help commissioners to procure in a way that follows both Procurement Law and the principles of the Compact. The Compact & Procurement Law
Supplier Guide 'How to do Business with Northumberland County Council'. NCC also run regular events to enhance your understanding of the procurement process http://pscm.northumbrland.gov.uk/portal/pages?pageid=78,95882
CC37 Charities and Public Service Delivery, Charities Commission Guidance http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/supportingcharities/psdindex.asp
NAVCA - Commissioning and procurement resources http://www.navca.org.uk/localvs/lcp/briefings/resouces.htm
NCVO - Before signing the dotted line 'all you need to know about procuring public sector contracts' http://ncvo-vol.org.uk/index.asp?id=2233&terms=procurement%20&20commissioning#Introductoryguides
A website supporting NE businesses attending the 'winning business in the public sector'. http://www.publicporcurement.co.uk/
Ten steps to contracting - www.vonne.org.uk
Capacity Builders finance hub http://financehub.org.uk
