Procurement Unit
Our aim is to seek value for money on all goods, services and works bought by the Authority.
We continuously improve the procurement process so as to obtain best value from the contracts we enter into and to minimise the administration costs of buying. We offer guidance, advice and support on all aspects of procurement to all Authority departments and local policing units, and we actively manage the Authority’s approved list of contractors.
The unit ensures that all procurement complies with the Authority’s rules and national and European Law. We control and monitor all major contracts for the procurement of goods, services and works – the Authority currently spends in excess of £100 million on all contracts – and we promote buying that supports equalities, sustainability and ethical standards.
Our supplier base includes many local suppliers and we recognise the importance of developing local business and encouraging them to work with us, helping to create local jobs and to reduce our carbon impact.
We’ve tried to make it fair and easy for all suppliers to do business with the Authority by publishing a “guide to selling to West Midlands Police” see link below. As the public sector are forced to make more efficient use of declining budgets, we are increasingly working in partnership with other police forces and local councils to achieve economies of scale through joint contracts and aggregating procurement of related items.
We encourage SMEs to apply for contract opportunities, we obviously can’t give any company an unfair advantage over another, but we do ensure that all suppliers are treated equally and that SMEs have an opportunity to complete.
There is a list of our recurring contracts at www.bluelight.gov.uk which links to the national Emergency Services Portal. Any current opportunities for suppliers appear at this site.
If you are a supplier and want to find out about future opportunities with West Midlands Police or other Police Authorities and Fire & Rescue Services, go to www.bluelight.gov.uk see link below, and register (for free) with the ‘Bluelight’ Emergency Services Portal for your chosen areas of interest. You’ll then receive am e-mail every time there is a relevant opportunity, including with West Midlands Police.
Downloads
- A Guide for Suppliers (.doc) -updated
- Terms & Conditions (.doc)
- CPU Business Conduct for Procurers of Goods and Services (.doc)
- Dos and Don'ts When Submitting an Invoice (.doc)