THE COUNCIL'S TENDERING PROCESS
All interested companies can express interest in an advertised tender opportunity.
If the goods, services or works are very straightforward and the value is below the Council’s threshold for inviting tenders, then a quotation may be requested.
If the goods, services or works are above the Council’s tender threshold but below the European (or Official Journal of the European Union – “OJEU”) tender threshold, then the Council will normally apply a pre-qualification stage to the tender process. That is to say, they will issue to all companies expressing interest, a pre-qualification questionnaire which allows them to check that the companies concerned are legally, financially and technically sound.
The pre-qualification process is set out in more detail on the Purchasing Procedures webpage.
Only those who pass the pre-qualification stage will be invited to submit a tender.
At the European tender threshold, the Council has the choice of a number of procedures and will have chosen the most appropriate one as part of placing the public notice. Most European tenders also have a pre-qualification stage. This will require completion of a more formal and detailed Pre-Qualification Questionnaire.
NB: All successful bidders will be contracted on the Council’s standard terms and conditions.