Tenders and contract opportunities

Find out how we buy goods, works and services, where to find contract opportunities, and what suppliers need to know before bidding.

Find contract opportunities

Public sector contract opportunities are advertised through the Find a Tender Service. This is also known as the Central Digital Platform.

The Find a Tender Service is the UK government’s free digital portal for public sector contracts. We encourage all suppliers to register, as this makes it easier to find and bid for public sector contracts.

For awards over £30,000, including VAT, legislation requires us to publish the supplier’s unique identifier in contract details notices. Suppliers should register on the Find a Tender Service and provide the required information when submitting a tender or quotation.

You can use the following government guidance to register and find your unique identifier:

We also advertise early market engagement and tender opportunities on the Supplying the South West procurement portal. This portal helps councils and suppliers work together.

You can use the portal to search for new opportunities without registering.

If you register for free, you can:

  • add a profile for your company and the types of opportunity you are interested in
  • get email alerts when matching opportunities become available
  • express an interest in a published opportunity
  • request contract documents

We may also use this portal for contracts below £30,000, including VAT, where this is appropriate.

If you are thinking about bidding for a council contract, read the Invitation to Tender and Request for Quotation documents carefully.

Our approach to procurement

Effective procurement of goods, works and services is vital to local government and the communities we serve.

We are committed to getting best value from all our transactions. We also use procurement to support the council’s priorities, wider regeneration aims, and social goals.

Social value and community wealth building

A key council priority is to Build a Better Swindon. This includes:

  • supporting Swindon’s economy
  • helping Swindon businesses to grow
  • promoting the benefits of social value
  • supporting community wealth building

Our procurement work can support community wealth building and carbon reduction together with other social value measures.

We apply social value criteria proportionately in procurement. This helps us assess how what we buy can improve the economic, social, and environmental wellbeing of the Swindon area.

Social value questions give suppliers the chance to show how they will support our priorities if they are awarded the contract.

Local contractors still need to compete on price, performance, and quality before they can be awarded a public contract.

You can read the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.

Procurement rules and regulations

As a local authority, we have a duty under Best Value legislation to review our services. We must make arrangements to improve economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Public sector contracts must comply with the relevant public contract regulations.

The regulations require councils to follow detailed procedures for procurements above the relevant financial thresholds.

For procurements below these thresholds, we follow our own contract procedure rules for buying goods, services, and works.

Procurement Act 2023

The rules for public procurement have changed.

The Procurement Act 2023 came into force on 24 February 2025. It created a simpler and more flexible commercial system, while remaining compliant with international obligations.

The Procurement Act replaced the Public Contract Regulations for how public procurement activities are regulated in the UK.

When carrying out a procurement covered by the Act, public authorities must consider the importance of:

  • delivering value for money
  • maximising public benefit
  • sharing information so suppliers and others can understand procurement policies and decisions
  • acting, and being seen to act, with integrity

The Government Commercial Agency has prepared webinars to help suppliers understand their responsibilities under the new Act.

Watch the overview of the new Central Digital Platform, an enhanced Find a Tender Service on YouTube.

Performance and contract management

We monitor suppliers and contractors against the performance criteria set out in the contract documents.

We work continually to improve our performance and expect our contractors to do the same.

Our contract management officers provide support services. They are responsible for:

  • contract monitoring and performance reporting
  • applying contract terms and conditions if there is a service breach
  • supporting audit inspections

Transparency code

The Transparency Code 2015 was issued by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

It is a code of recommended practice for local government. It covers the publication of information about council functions and other matters.

Information required by the Transparency Code is available on our open data and transparency pages.

Electronic trading

Electronic procurement, or e-procurement, allows us to buy goods, services, and works online.

We use purchasing cards for low-value, high-volume items. This means items costing less than £500 per transaction.

Contact the procurement team

For more information, contact:

Corporate Procurement Team
Swindon Borough Council
Wat Tyler West, 5th Floor
Beckhampton Street
Swindon
SN1 2JG

Email: procurement@swindon.gov.uk.

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