Summary
Identify the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.
How you buy for your school depends on the amount you鈥檙e spending.
The route you can take may depend on whether this value is below or above and the .
Check your school鈥檚 procurement rules to see what they define as low to high value. Department for Education (DfE) considers:
- low is under 拢10,000
- medium is 拢10,000 to 拢40,000
- high is over 拢40,000
Work through the following sections to prepare for a procurement, and to decide which route is best for you.
Contents
-
How to get ready to buy things for your school to help you get the best deal and save money.
-
Department for Education (DfE) training is available on the Procurement Act 2023 and registration on the central digital platform.
-
The document you give to suppliers explaining what you want to buy.
-
When to buy from a framework agreement, when to get bids or quotes and when to run a buying process compliant with the The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Act 2023.
-
How schools can buy from a framework agreement where they鈥檙e allowed to select the supplier directly.
-
How schools can buy low value goods from catalogues
-
How schools can buy low or medium value things by researching suppliers and getting at least 3 quotes.
-
How schools can buy high value things, including how to advertise a contract and run a procurement process.
-
How schools can buy high value things and comply with the Procurement Act 2023.
-
What to include in your school, academy or trust鈥檚 contract with a supplier, and how to work with them through the process.
-
How to avoid fraud and what to do if you suspect it.
-
Keeping a fixed asset register