HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH CLEVELAND POLICE - A Guide for Suppliers and Service Providers
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HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH
CLEVELAND POLICE
A Guide for Suppliers and Service Providers
November 2013
Cleveland Police
How to Business Guide
October 2009
CONTENTS
About This Guide.....................................................................3
How much do we spend..........................................................4
Benefits of doing Business with Cleveland Police ..................5
Benefits..............................................................................................................5
Prompt Payment of Invoices..............................................................................6
Ability to increase Market Share ........................................................................6
How to do Business with Cleveland Police .............................8
E-Procurement...................................................................................................8
Bluelight Registration.........................................................................................9
Getting Started ..................................................................................................9
How do I register my Company? .......................................................................9
How do I express an interest in a new opportunity? .......................................10
Becoming a supplier to Cleveland Police ..............................11
Best Value .......................................................................................................11
Health and Safety............................................................................................11
Capacity & Capability ......................................................................................11
Equality & Diversity .........................................................................................11
Ethical Procurement ......................................................................................112
Customer Care ..............................................................................................133
e- Procurement................................................................................................13
Invoice Payments ............................................................................................13
Sustainability ...................................................................................................13
Criminal Records Bureau Checks ...................................................................14
Technical Assessments - Reference Sites and Referees................................14
Community ......................................................................................................14
Workforce ........................................................................................................15
Management Information.................................................................................15
Other Information ................................................................16
Terms and Conditions......................................................................................16
Evaluation of Tenders ......................................................................................16
Debriefing ........................................................................................................16
Approved Supplier Lists ...................................................................................18
Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Black Minority Ethnic Suppliers (BME)
and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) .............................................18
Page 1
Cleveland Police
How to Business Guide
October 2009
Opportunities to Tender .......................................................20
Other Useful Links ................................................................21
Appendix 1 ............................................................................22
Public Procurement Policy................................................................................22
Procurement Process .......................................................................................23
Appendix 2 ............................................................................26
List of Useful Contacts .....................................................................................26
Appendix 3 ............................................................................29
Step by Step Guide – How to register with Blue Light .....................................29
HMS Trincomalee – Hartlepool Marina
Page 2Cleveland Police
How to Business Guide
October 2009
About This Guide
How to do Business with Cleveland Police has been produced to give
businesses guidance on how to gain or improve business
opportunities within Cleveland Police. Cleveland Police is committed
to providing high quality services to meet both the current and future
needs of local people.
We have prepared this guide to inform existing and potential
suppliers of our vision for the future and to encourage you to tender
for our business, where you feel you can offer best value. We are
very interested in suppliers who can offer new, innovative solutions
that will move us closer to our aims and vision.
Effective procurement, based on a principle of value for money, will
support Cleveland Police in achieving this vision and meeting its
corporate objectives. Cleveland Police strives to ensure that its
activities are undertaken with honesty, equality and integrity.
Suppliers interested in pursuing business opportunities with Cleveland
Police should register (for free) on Bluelight (details below).
https://www.bluelight.gov.uk/portal/cms.nsf/vHomePage/fSection?Op
enDocument
Bluelight is used by many Police Forces as their hub for advertising
and processing tender documents
Page 3Cleveland Police
How to Business Guide
October 2009
How much do we spend
Cleveland Police spends in excess of £38 million per annum,
excluding direct employment costs. Cleveland also has a capital
budget, which varies each year according to the resources available.
Cleveland Police is one of seven Forces belonging to the North East
Region. Cleveland Police procurement works closely with both
Northumbria and Durham Police Forces. Cleveland Police is also a
participating organisation in the North East Procurement Organisation
(NEPO) consortium comprising all the North East Councils, Authorities
and Emergency Services which is based in Gateshead.
• North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO)
https://www.qtegov.com/systems/nepocms.nsf/vHomepage/fse
ction?opendocument
• Government Procurement Service (GPS)
http://gps.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
Page 4Cleveland Police
How to Business Guide
October 2009
Benefits of doing Business with Cleveland
Police
Benefits
• Promoting Business within the Cleveland Area
• Pay all suppliers on average within 30 days
• Able to pay on all occasions
• Payments made weekly every Thursday by BACS
• Opportunities for repeat business
• Opportunities to gain from promoting that you are a
supplier to Cleveland Police (prior written approval
required)
• Verification that your policies and procedures are
compliant with Public Authority requirements
• Gateway to business with other Police Forces and Local
Authorities
Yarm Bridge – Yarm on Tees
Page 5Cleveland Police
How to Business Guide
October 2009
Prompt Payment of Invoices
Cleveland Police recognises the importance of cash flow to all
companies, especially small businesses. We have a clear policy
to ensure payment of all invoices in accordance with the terms
of the contract. Where no contract terms are specified our
policy is to pay within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice, or
receipt of satisfactory goods or services, whichever is the later.
If an invoice is disputed and you and the ordering officer
cannot resolve it, a senior official within the procurement unit
will arbitrate at your request. You can help to make sure
invoices are paid promptly by ensuring all invoice details are
accurate, including the purchase order number and that the
invoice is correctly addressed. Let us know about changes of
name, address or bank details as soon as possible. To help us
pay quickly, we pay all suppliers through the Bankers
Automated Clearing Service (BACS).
Ability to increase Market Share
National, Regional and Local framework agreements give
suppliers of goods and services access to a much wider market
than they have previously enjoyed. Through participation in
consortia contracts, framework agreements and electronic
tendering, suppliers are able to expand into much larger
markets.
Page 6Cleveland Police
How to Business Guide
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What do we buy?
We buy a vast range of works, goods and services, too many to
publish them all in this guide, but as a taste of the range:
Services Custodial Services
• Advertising • Arrest Referral
• Interpreters • Custody Support & Management
• Forensics Analysis
• Travel & Accommodation Professional
• Pensions
Facilities Management Services • Audit Services
• FM Consultancy • Financial Services
• Cleaning • Health & Safety
• Catering • Insurance
• Waste • Training / First Aid Training
• Painters and Decorators
• Electricians and Plumbers Goods
• Builders and Plasterers • Furniture
• Boarding & Glazing • Ammunition
• Vehicles & Ancillaries
IT Services • Vehicle Hire
• Financial Management System • Stationary incl. Printing
• IT Hardware and Maintenance • Uniform & Equipment
• IT Software & Maintenance • Firearms Equipment
• Telecommunications Airwaves & • Printers/Copiers/Fax Machines
Mobiles
• E-Procurement Systems • IT Hardware (Incl. SAN/Servers)
Vehicle Related Utilities
• Vehicle Maintenance & Electrics • Gas
• Vehicle Data Recorders • Electricity
• Vehicle Recovery • Water
• Fuel
Personnel Related
• Occupational Health Works
• Temporary Staff • Property Construction
• Staff Support Services • Leases/Rents/Rates
Page 7Cleveland Police
How to Business Guide
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How to do Business with Cleveland Police
The National Drive is for the supply process to the Public Sector to
become more streamlined and efficient. This saves costs to both the
supplier and the customer (ultimately the tax payer).
E-Procurement
An electronic method of communication is the primary method
of conducting business with Cleveland Police.
Benefits of e-Procurement include:
o Reduced cost of sales
o Quicker Payments
o Reduces cost of Inventory
o Protects the market from economic instability
o Improves data management
o Tool for advertising and marketing requirements
Cleveland Police have therefore introduced Bluelight, which is a
web based electronic quoting and tendering system. Many
Police forces and Local Authorities throughout the country are
already using this system and most suppliers to the Public
Sector will be familiar with it.
Cleveland Police wants to encourage all those local suppliers,
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Black Minority Ethnic
Suppliers (BMEs) that are keen to do business with Cleveland
Police to register on Bluelight. It is free for suppliers to register
on this site and view opportunities to quote/tender.
Additionally, by registering on Bluelight, suppliers will also be
able to see tender/business opportunities with other Police
Page 8Cleveland Police
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Forces (including Durham Police and Northumbria Police) and
many Local Authorities.
Please see below on how to register with Bluelight.
Bluelight Registration
The Bluelight Pro-Contract e-tendering system is a complete
Internet based solution, meaning no software resides on either
the buyer’s or the supplier’s computer. It provides buyers and
suppliers with a secure, cost effective and easy-to-use e-
tendering solution for the necessary advertisement of new
tender opportunities, and exchange of quotation and tender
documentation.
Getting Started
All that is required of suppliers to use the system is a computer
with a valid email address and Internet access. Once you are
Internet ready, there are NO further costs associated with the
system, NO registration fee, NO subscription charges and NO
software to purchase.
To participate in quotation and tender procedures with the
member authorities, you must register your company on the
Bluelight Pro-Contract e-Tendering System.
See below and Appendix 3 for further details.
How do I register my Company?
Go to www.bluelight.gov.uk and click the ‘Register Company”
link on the left hand side under the Supplier Menu. Then
complete your personal contact details, fill in the organisation
details, and add yourselves to one or more product and service
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categories and member organisation, in order to be notified via
email when new opportunities are advertised.
Following approval of your registration you will be sent 2 emails
confirming your user name and password, please treat these
securely (if you forget either, there are forgotten user name
and password options under the Supplier Menu on the portal
home page).
How do I express an interest in a new opportunity?
If you wish to express an interest in a new tender opportunity,
and obtain further information, go to www.bluelight.gov.uk,
then select New Opportunities from the Supplier menu, and
enter your search criteria. Once the required opportunity is
located, click on the Tender Title and select the Login and
Register Interest button, then enter your username and
password. You will receive email confirmation of your
expression of interest.
If you are not already registered on the system, you will need
to do so.
The Transporter Bridge - Middlesbrough
Page 10Cleveland Police
How to Business Guide
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Becoming a supplier to Cleveland Police
Cleveland Police Procurement policies and procedures are detailed in
Appendix 2. When applying to become a supplier to Cleveland Police,
you will be asked to answer questions about your business, products
and services. Topics covered may include:
Best Value
Can you demonstrate value for money, taking into account the
“whole life costs” of your products or services, from
manufacture to disposal and demonstrate continuous
improvement throughout the life of the contract?
Health and Safety
Can you demonstrate a successful and consistent health and
safety track record (within your organisation, in your products
and in the delivery of services) and supply user / material
information on health and safety matters e.g. Health and Safety
policies and procedures, risk assessments, Health and Safety
training, etc?
Capacity & Capability
Do you have the necessary knowledge, technical expertise and
resources and can you demonstrate financial stability?
Equality & Diversity
Cleveland Police are committed to equal opportunities for all,
regardless of race, colour, religion, ethnicity, gender, family
status, sexual orientation, disability or age, and will promote
equality in the procurement of goods, works and services.
Contractors may be asked if they comply with the Sex
Discrimination Act 1975, the Equal Pay Act 1970, the Disability
Discrimination Act 1995, the Race Relations Act 1976, the Race
Page 11Cleveland Police
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Relations Amendment Act 2000 and any related Codes of
Practice. Contractors will also be asked if they have a policy on
Equal Opportunities and will be requested to provide this at
pre-qualification stage.
Ethical Procurement at Cleveland Police
Cleveland Police is committed to ensuring the highest ethical
standards and practices including safe working conditions and
protection of workers rights, across its business. Cleveland Police
conducts its business in accordance with this policy and expects all
suppliers to demonstrate a similar commitment.
Cleveland Police will work proactively to ensure that their supply base
complies with the following principles:
• All policies and procedures will confirm to ILO standards
(International Labour Organisation).
• Wages and benefits will be at least national legal standards for
the relevant country or industry benchmark standards and
where possible the living wage.
• Working hours must comply with National regulations and
industry benchmark standards.
• All working conditions conform to at least the minimum health
and safety regulations in the relevant country.
• No child or forced labour will be utilised.
• There shall be no discrimination in the recruitment of
employees or contractors.
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Customer Care
Do you have evidence of a customer care policy that is
monitored and reviewed?
e- Procurement
Are your catalogues of products / services / prices available on-
line and/or can purchase orders be accepted using electronic
methods?
Invoice Payments
Are you able to ensure that all invoices contain an order
reference number and can you accept payment by BACS?
Sustainability
Sustainable procurement is about integrating the principles of
sustainability into all policies and Public Sector projects, thereby
ensuring supplies, services and works are of a sustainable
outcome. Ensuring sustainability in procurement is a major way
that we can safeguard the quality of life of our children and our
children’s children. When procuring, the kind of questions we
might ask of suppliers are:
• Are “Green” products / services options clearly identifiable in
your catalogues?
• Can packaging be eliminated, recycled or reduced and will you
take back packaging or waste?
• Are your products and processes energy efficient?
Page 13Cleveland Police
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• Are your products designed to ensure their safe distribution,
use and disposal and are harmful substances generated by your
manufacturing process minimised or eliminated?
• Do you have a green travel / environmental transport and
logistic policy?
Criminal Records Bureau Checks
Cleveland Police are required to undertake a Criminal Records
Bureau check for all potential contractors staff who will be
undertaking work on behalf of the Authority.
Technical Assessments - Reference Sites and Referees
A technical assessment will be undertaken to assess the
performance, experience and ability of the contractor in
providing the works, goods and services.
Community
Do you provide local employment and contribute to the local
economy?
What value can you bring to the community of Cleveland e.g.
do you work with the voluntary sector, provide local community
services, promote community well being?
Page 14Cleveland Police
How to Business Guide
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Workforce
Do you invest in training and development to any recognised
standard e.g. “Investors in People”?
Do you support local workforce initiatives e.g. New Deal, Job
Share?
Can you demonstrate support for the minimum wage?
Management Information
Can you provide regular management information on
performance against the contract?
Tendering Tips
1. Return the tender by the closing date and time specified. Late tenders will
not be considered without good reason given by the supplier.
2. Respond to any requests for clarifications or further information by the
specified date.
3. Make sure you supply all the information requested in the Invitation to
Tender documentation.
4. When referring to internal forms please provide a copy in your submission.
5. If you have a more innovative way of supplying either the service or goods
that differs from the tender specification this should be highlighted as an
alternative option for consideration. This will be considered and scored
accordingly.
Page 15Cleveland Police
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Other Information
Terms and Conditions
Cleveland Police uses its own Terms and Conditions, which can
be downloaded from our website
http://www.cleveland.police.uk and are attached to all
invitation to tender documentation. Tenderers are advised to
follow all tender instructions carefully, or it may invalidate your
tender.
Evaluation of Tenders
You will be advised when invited to tender what criteria will be
used to evaluate bids. All tenderers are assessed against the
same criteria. Your bid will be successful if it is the one that
offers the department the best value for money. A contract is
awarded as soon as possible after the evaluation process has
been completed. A formal acceptance letter or contract
document is sent to the successful tenderer and letters of
decline are sent to those unsuccessful, with the offer of a full
debrief.
Debriefing
Cleveland Police aim to ensure within the constraints of
confidentiality that firms who ask are made aware of the
reasons why their bid was not successful. Our objective is to
comment constructively on the strengths and weaknesses of
your bid to enable you to better compete for future work. The
unit also encourages comment about any aspects of the tender
process that were unclear or which caused disproportionate
efforts on the tenderers’ part.
Page 16Cleveland Police
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Roseberry Topping – Cleveland Hills
Page 17Cleveland Police
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Approved Supplier Lists
It is not the policy of Cleveland Police to develop and use
approved lists. However, by registering on Bluelight your
business will see and can be considered for opportunities for
business with Cleveland Police.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), Black Minority Ethnic
Suppliers (BME) and the Voluntary and Community Sector
(VCS)
It is our policy to encourage SMEs, BMEs and the VCS to bid for
Cleveland Police Contracts and works with larger suppliers to
subcontract to such organisations. We recognise the important
contribution which they make to the economy. Our aim is to
further enhance opportunities for these organisations wherever
possible and must be consistent with value for money and the
need to treat all companies fairly. Initiatives taken to help
SMEs, BMEs and the VCS include:
• Simplification of procedures and documentation - the
packaging of contracts will be looked at whilst acting within
EU rules and ensuring Best Value is maintained;
• Wherever practicable, at least one SME, BME or VCS supplier
is included in each competition;
• Invoices are paid promptly, usually within the agreed terms
of 30 days;
• Use of approved quality standards;
• Increased awareness of Procurement Activity and policies via
a designated Cleveland Police website;
• The introduction of government portals to advertise all future
contract opportunities.
Page 18Cleveland Police
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Tees Barrage – Stockton on Tees
Page 19Cleveland Police
How to Business Guide
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Opportunities to Tender
There are several methods of how Cleveland Police publicise business
opportunities which include the following:
• Newspapers/Trade Journals
• Working with Local Trade Associations
• Working with third sector organisations
• Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU)
http://www.ojeu.eu/
• Constructionline
http://www.constructionline.co.uk/static/
• Bluelight portal
https://www.bluelight.gov.uk/portal/cms.nsf/vHomePage/fSecti
on?OpenDocument
Page 20Cleveland Police
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Other Useful Links
• Business Link
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/
• The North East Chamber of Commerce
http://www.necc.co.uk/
• One North East
http://www.onenortheast.co.uk/
• Please see Appendix 2 for further contact details
FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT:
CLEVELAND POLICE PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT
Ash House, Princeton Drive, Thornaby, Stockton on tees, Cleveland, TS17 6AJ
Telephone: 01642 301234 (Option 2)
Email: purchasing@cleveland.pnn.police.uk
Website: http://www.cleveland.police.uk
Page 21Cleveland Police
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Appendix 1
Public Procurement Policy
Procurement is the process used to acquire goods, works and
services.
All Cleveland Police procurement is consistent with EU legislation and
the Government’s Value for Money policy. (Value for money is
defined as the optimum combination on whole life costs and quality
to meet the customer’s requirements). The emphasis on whole life
costs means we must take into account all aspects of cost including
running and disposal costs as well as initial purchase price. All goods,
works and services are acquired by competition unless there are
convincing reasons to the contrary. All requirements that exceed EU
procurement directives thresholds are advertised in the supplement
to the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). Tendering and
letting contracts can often appear confusing and bureaucratic to
suppliers and often put small and medium enterprises (SME) off
tendering. However, we have been actively pursuing a reduction in
the information required from suppliers so that it is appropriate for
the particular contract in question. It should be emphasised that
Cleveland Police are spending public money and that we are audited
through strict guidelines and processes. All public expenditure has to
be fully documented and accounted for, from the initial decision to
purchase, to the final award. Our Procurement Policy is fair,
reasonable and totally transparent giving equal opportunity to all
bidders. This is achieved by using pre-agreed evaluation criteria;
normally this will be the ‘Most Economically Advantageous Tender’
(MEAT). The Procurement process has to be undertaken in a manner
that can be scrutinised and shown to have been carried out with
propriety.
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Procurement Procedures and Regulations
Cleveland Police have a duty to operate in an open and transparent
way by allowing all suppliers the freedom to trade with us. Our
procedures are covered by our Procurement Policy and Contract
Standing Orders. These are important documents as they:
• Provide an auditable framework under which we undertake our
work
• Assist in ensuring Best Value in all business transactions
undertaken
• Ensure we comply with law governing the spending of public
money
• Give protection to staff and members from undue criticism or
allegation of wrongdoing.
Details are available on the Force website:
http://www.cleveland.police.uk
Procurement Process
• For purchases up to £10,000, Service Units or Departments may
either obtain competitive quotations or negotiate to obtain
value for money, and are required to use corporate contracts
where these exist;
• For purchases between £10,000 and £50,000, Service Units or
Departments must obtain at least three competitive quotations,
or use corporate contracts where these exist;
• For purchases in excess of £50,000 tenders will be invited either
as an open tendering or selective tendering procedure;
• For purchases in excess of the EU consolidated Procurement
Directives (£173,000) thresholds tenders will be invited in
accordance with the EU Procurement Directives Open,
Restricted, Negotiated or Competitive Dialogue Procedures.
Page 23Cleveland Police
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These requirements will be advertised as required in the Official
Journal of the European Union (OJEU).
Framework Agreements, including agreements reached in
collaboration with other Forces or local authorities, are ‘call-off’
contracts which have been subjected to formal European tender and
are often arranged with a number of suppliers for potential, but not
guaranteed, requirements, in order to speedily meet Force needs as
they arise. Such agreements are formal contracts and Cleveland
Police can buy from these without the need for further competition.
However, where the value of an intended single purchase is in excess
of £10,000, the framework agreement will be used to conduct a
competitive procurement exercise amongst the contracted suppliers,
as the nature of framework agreements does not always allow for
fixed prices, in order to allow for competitive procurement and
achievement of best value.
Cleveland Police are signatories to a number of Central Government
Framework Agreements and the use of such supply arrangements,
set up via the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), will be subject
to the same rules as described in this document with the addition of
the following rules:
• All of the approved suppliers to the Buying Solutions Framework
MUST be requested to provide quotations or tenders. The
comprehensive range of products and services available to the
Public Sector can be seen at: www.buyingsolutions.gov.uk
• For purchases to be made from the Buying Solutions Catalogue
quotations will be sought for purchases over the value of
£5,000 from approved suppliers listed in the catalogue.
• Where three quotations cannot be achieved due to there being
insufficient contractors for a specific commodity, then it is
acceptable to use the framework agreement without seeking
further quotes.
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Public Sector organisations are continually being encouraged to
participate in collaborative/consortia procurement activity in order to
reduce the costs of tendering processes and reduce bureaucracy,
both for the organisations concerned and our suppliers. Cleveland
Police would encourage suppliers to actively respond to such
agreements. Whenever we invite companies to tender we ensure the
following:
• Specify our needs in terms of outputs whenever appropriate, to
encourage innovation;
• Invite tenders from enough suppliers to ensure there is genuine
competition;
• Make sure tendering procedures and documentation are as
clear and concise as possible, and only ask for information
necessary to evaluate bids;
• Inform all tenderers of the evaluation criteria on which the
decision to award the contract will be based; and
• Provide all tenderers with the same information and
opportunity.
Page 25Cleveland Police
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Appendix 2
List of Useful Contacts
⇒ The Office of Government Commerce was established
following a review (‘Releasing resources for the frontline:
Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency’) into civil
procurement by Peter Gershon. OGC is an independent office of
the treasury with its own Chief Executive. OGC’s aim is to work
with civil government as a catalyst to achieving best value for
money in commercial activities. Visit website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office
⇒ Government Procurement Service (GPS) is the national
procurement partner for UK public services. The primary role of
GPS is to maximise the value for money obtained by
Government departments and other public bodies through the
procurement and supply of goods and services. This includes
catalogues of pre-tendered goods and services in categories
such as ICT, telecommunications, buildings and professional
services. Public sector organisations using GPS fully meet EU
rules on public sector purchasing. The contracts are put out to
tender on a regular basis, usually every 4 years. These
contracts are usually framework agreements, being included in
one of these catalogues will increase your visibility with the
public sector as the catalogues are widely recognised by central
government and local authorities. For more information see the
website: http://gps.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
⇒ GPS Service Desk -The service desk deals with enquiries
about all aspects of GPS business and provides a first-line of
support to GPS customers. If specialist help is needed, Service
Desk staff will channel the enquiry to the appropriate person in
GPS. You can contact the Service Desk by telephoning: 0345
010 3503
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⇒ Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) is the online version of
OJEU. It gives direct access to notices of tender activity which
may interest you. You can gain access to TED free of charge
from the website:
http://ted.europa.eu/TED/main/HomePage.do
⇒ Tenders Direct is a website that provides access to over
30,000 current government contracts in the UK and Europe.
Visit the website: http://www.tendersdirect.co.uk
⇒ Tenders on the Web is a website that provides access to
current government contracts providing advice on tendering
and EU procurement directives. Visit the website:
http://www.tenders.co.uk
⇒ Business Link Operators provide access to a range of
business advice and support for small firms through a national
network. Some offer direct access to public sector opportunities
tailored to the specific needs of your business. To contact your
nearest Business Link Operator visit the web site:
http://www.businesslink.org
⇒ Government Opportunities is published by Business
Information Publication (BiP) monthly with weekly updated
supplements. For more information visit the website:
http://www.bipcontracts.com
⇒SIMAP aims to support an effective Single Market by
encouraging suppliers and contracting entities to adopt best
practise and use electronic commerce and information
technology to provide all the information needed to deliver
value for money in public procurement. Visit the website:
http://ted.europa.eu/TED/main/HomePage.do
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⇒Commission for Racial Equality - The Commission’s guide
gives local authorities the information they need to be confident
of meeting their race equality duty when they carry out
procurement, within EU rules, best value and other UK laws and
policies. It also offers guidance to private and voluntary sector
organisations on the new race equality expectations they will
meet when they do business with local authorities. For more
information and an electronic copy of the guide please visit the
website: http://www.cre.gov.uk
Bluelight Procurement Database (BLPD)
The Bluelight Procurement Database is an online information
hub aimed at improving visibility and access to contract and
procurement information for buyers within the Emergency
Services in the United Kingdom. Suppliers should note that the
BLPD is only available to registered users from member
authorities, within the Emergency Services, but suppliers can
view current opportunities on the Bluelight e-tendering website,
found at http://www.bluelight.gov.uk for access to new tender
opportunities from the remaining Emergency Services. Website
address is http://www.blpd.gov.uk
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Appendix 3
Step by Step Guide – How to register with Blue Light
1. Go to www.bluelight.gov.uk and click the ‘Register
Company” link on the left hand side under the Supplier Menu
2. Complete your personal contact details, fill in the
organisation details, and add yourselves to one or more
product and service categories and member organisation
3. Following approval of your registration you will be sent 2
emails confirming your user name and password, please
treat these securely
4. If you wish to express an interest in a new tender
opportunity, and obtain further information, go to
www.bluelight.gov.uk, then select New Opportunities from
the Supplier menu, and enter your search criteria.
5. Once the required opportunity is located, click on the Tender
Title and select the Login and Register Interest button, then
enter your username and password. You will receive email
confirmation of your expression of interest.
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