Selling to DfT
Background
The Department for Transport Headquarters Organisation is responsible for developing and implementing government transport policy. It spends annually around £240 million on the direct procurement of goods and services. Additionally, taking into account our 7 Executive Agencies who concentrate on major strategic transport projects and the delivery of services to the public, DfT as a whole spends around £3.2 billion on the direct procurement of goods and services.
Good procurement practice is recognised as key to supporting delivery of the Department's strategic aims and objectives. We buy services, goods and works by competition whenever possible, in line with UK government policy and the relevant legal requirements. Our aim is to achieve value for money. This means considering the optimum combination of quality and whole life cost to meet the needs of the user.
Supplier portal
The Central Department has developed a supplier portal in partnership with BiP Solutions. This makes real-time information about our purchasing arrangements and contracts available to suppliers. The site includes:
- Our purchasing organisation
- The tendering process
- Our standard terms & conditions
- EU advertised contracts
- Details of current, future and past EU advertised opportunities
- Other purchasing information
- Useful contact points
- Links to DfT Agency web sites
To view the information available visit the DfT(C) supplier portal. (http://dft.g2b.info/)
DfT conditions of contract
DfT has standard conditions of contract for most of the services or goods it purchases. These conditions are based on models produced by HM Treasury for use in Government contracts, adapted as necessary for use by DfT. They are amended from time to time to reflect changes in legislation and experience in use.
DfT's standard contract conditions are designed to meet DfT's dual responsibility as an accountable public contracting authority and an equitable and responsible employer. They are widely accepted by the contractors DfT employs and their adoption as a standard means that tenderers for DfT's work have the assurance that their competitors are subject to identical terms of engagement. This is an essential part of the integrity of the tendering process and consequently the conditions are only negotiable in exceptional circumstances.
Purchase order conditions of contract
These standard conditions of contract are used by the Department when placing a purchase order for goods or services not available through any pre-existing contract typically where the value is below £25,000.
Supply of goods conditions of contract
The Department's General Conditions of Contract used when contracting for the provision of a wide range of higher value Goods. These General conditions are augmented as appropriate by DfT to cater for any particular requirements or features of individual contracts.
Provision of services conditions of contract
The Department's General Conditions of Contract used when contracting for the provision of a wide range of higher value Services (including research, professional services and consultancy). These General conditions are augmented as appropriate by DfT to cater for any particular requirements or features of individual contracts.
Instructions for tenderers
The Department provides precise Instructions for Tenderers, covering such issues as Access to Government Information, Submission of Tenders, Group Bids, Alternative Tenders and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE).
To ensure fairness all tenderers are required to submit their tenders in accordance with these instructions and any further requirements contained in the invitation letter. Failure to comply could invalidate the tender.
