Rules and Legislation

The Council purchases services, supplies and works that range in value up to hundreds of thousands of pounds, from many companies.

Harrow Council, like most other local authorities, devolves the authority to make buying decisions throughout the organisation, on the basis that managers in each service area are best placed to understand local needs and buy accordingly. At the centre, a Strategic Procurement team provides specialist advice and support to all departments of the Council. It also manages a range of corporate contracts for items such as agency staff, stationery, paper, Interpretations and Translation. These contracts can be used across all departments, including our schools

There are several rules which affect how the Council purchases services, supplies and works.

1. European Law
The Council must follow European Law on Public Sector Purchasing. Most contracts for services and supplies above £173,934 (approximately) must be advertised in the Official Journal for the European Union (OJEU), as well as the local and/or national press.
Contracts for construction or highway works above £4,348,350 must also be advertised in the OJEU and the local and national press.

Read further information on how the procurement directive allows a number of different tendering procedures.

2. Procurement Strategy
The Procurement Strategy document sets out the Council's strategic approach to procurement, which should be read in conjunction with the Contract Procedure Rules. The Corporate Procurement Strategy provides a framework for the Council to obtain value for money in all its procurement activities.

3. Contract Procedure Rules
The Contract Procedure Rules set out the procedures that the Council and all schools must follow when they procure Goods, Services and Works.

4. Sustainable Procurement
The sustainable procurement policy sets out how and why the Council is requiring sustainability to be integrated into all procurement decision-making.