Business Bolton

Do business with Bolton Council

Bolton Council relies on contracted provision for a significant proportion of its budget in respect of goods, works and services.

Where to find contract opportunities...
Bolton Council has introduced a business portal system (known as The Chest), to enable existing and potential suppliers to:

• view all forthcoming contract opportunities for bolton and other councils from one place
• register free to receive e-mails on all relevant contract opportunities on the day they are advertised
• receive all contract opportunities relevant to your particular business interests
• allows requests for details of contract opportunities to be made 24/7

Click on the link below to access contract opportunities through Bolton Council and The Chest.

Procurement policies and procedures...
Bolton Council's procurement and contracting arrangements are designed to ensure that we achieve best value from all budgets. In order to manage this, procurement officers follow not only Bolton Council's internal standing orders and financial regulations, but also any relevant UK and EU legislation.

Types of tenders...
Open tenders: all suppliers respond to an advertisement (see above, "where to find contract opportunities"), where tender documentation is completed and returned.

Restricted tenders: a two stage process usually reserved for non-standard or very large service requirements. Bolton Council invites interested suppliers to complete a pre-qualification questionnaire, before inviting them to submit a formal tender.

Tender pack documentation includes...
Once your company has responded to the tender opportunity, you will be sent a tender pack, which will include the following:

• introductory letter detailing important administrative procedures relating to the tender. e.g. dates and times for submission and evaluation criteria to be used
• general terms and conditions of contract, this gives details the terms under which the council wishes to do business
• the contract specification/schedule, which details the council's requirements

Company information for each of the following areas...
a) basic company information which verifies the company as a legitimate trading organisation, with appropriate levels of financial standing. this is usually verified by inspection of audited accounts
b)appropriate insurances
c) appropriate trade references

Any company wishing to be considered for supplying goods and services to Bolton Council and wanting to receive invitations to submit tenders and quotations, should register on the Northwest Centre of Excellence portal: www.thechest.nwce.gov.uk

Where we advertise...
When letting contracts, Bolton Council advertises tenders both locally and nationally:

• business opportunities may be advertised in local news media (e.g. Bolton News, Manchester Evening News etc.)
• electronically via www.thechest.nwce.gov.uk/, where suppliers can register online to receive automatic email updates for opportunities that match their business interests
• larger contracts are advertised nationally, and include relevant trade journals
• any contracts which fall within the EU threshold are advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union, you can subscribe to receive this by calling HMSO on 0870 242 2345 or via www.ojec.com

Greater Manchester Procurement Group (AGMAPG)...
Bolton Council is a member of the Greater Manchester Procurement Group (AGMAPG). This partnership consists of a number of Greater Manchester authorities and other public sector organisations.

How the AGMAPG Partnership works...

• the partnership operates on a co-operative basis, with one authority administering a number of contracts on behalf of other members of the group and vice-versa
• a tender exercise is conducted for each contract. depending on the value of the tender this will be advertised in ojeu (official journal of the European Union) or local press and local trade journals
• the contracts administered in this way are also listed on the contracts register

Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation...
Bolton Council is also a founder member of the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation. Products available from this source are widely used across the council.

Ways to get in touch

For further information, please contact

The Procurement Team
Bolton Council
Civic Centre
4th Floor Paderborn House
Bolton BL1 1JW
Telephone: 01204 331638/ 331773
Email: purchasing.admin@bolton.gov.uk