Procurement
We’re committed to spending public money responsibly. Much of the money we spend comes from public funds, so we have both a legal and moral duty to make sure it’s used wisely. That means everything we buy must be sourced fairly, through open and honest processes, and in line with UK laws.
We follow strict standards to ensure our procurement is competitive, transparent, and impartial – always acting with integrity to get the best outcomes for our Customers and Communities.
Our procurement team are responsible for the highest level of best practice procurement on a huge variety of goods, works and services, ensuring that all activities:
- Achieve the highest quality and best value for money for Places for People (PfP) and our Customers
- Are transparent, fair and conducted with the highest standards of integrity
- Comply with public procurement legislation and our own best practice procedures
- Align with our Group strategy, values and Customer promises
What we look for from suppliers
We want to work with suppliers who deliver great service, offer value for money, and share our values.
When we run tenders, we look at more than just cost. We also consider quality, technical ability, sustainability, and social impact – depending on the size and type of contract.
To see what we expect from our suppliers, head over to our Supplier Onboarding page. It explains the minimum standards you'll need to meet to work with us.
Our procurement process
We choose the best approach for each contract, depending on its size and value:
| Below £30,000 | We get at least 3 quotations to make sure we achieve value for money. |
| Over £30,000 | Our Procurement team follows best practices and applies procedures in full compliance with UK legislation when the contract value exceeds the financial thresholds established under the Procurement Act 2023. |
We also make good use of our Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) and Dynamic Markets to open up more opportunities for VCSE’s and SME’s.
For more on procurement rules and thresholds, visit: Procurement Act 2023 - Guidance documents - GOV.UK
Finding tender opportunities
Where PfP are required to advertise a tender, we post them on our e-sourcing portal.
By registering as a supplier on this portal you'll be able to:
- Create a company profile showing what kind of work you're interested in.
- Receive alerts when matching opportunities come up.
- Pre-qualify for Dynamic Markets and DPS solutions used by PfP.
- View and respond to tender opportunities.
- Request contract documentation to be sent to you
You might also want to register on the Government’s Find a Tender service, where you can browse and apply for public sector contracts, including those from PfP.