Skip to main content

Procurement

Working with Nottingham City Council 

Nottingham City Council spends significant public funds each year on the services, works and products needed to deliver vital services for our residents, businesses and communities. We are committed to purchasing in a way that achieves best value, supports innovation, promotes sustainability and creates wider social benefits for Nottingham. 

We welcome interest from organisations of all sizes, including local businesses, voluntary and community sector organisations, social enterprises and national suppliers. Our aim is to make it as easy as possible for suppliers to understand how we buy, identify opportunities and compete fairly for Council contracts. 

The route we use to purchase goods, services and works depends on the nature, value and duration of the requirement. This ensures that procurement activity is proportionate, transparent and compliant with relevant legislation and Council requirements, while delivering the best possible outcomes for Nottingham and its residents. 

For most opportunities valued above £25,000 (exc VAT) , Nottingham City Council advertises and manages procurement activity through its online procurement portal. Registration is quick, easy and free, providing suppliers with access to current opportunities and notifications of relevant future contracts. 

Whether you are an existing supplier or interested in working with the Council for the first time, these pages explain how we procure, where opportunities are advertised, and how you can engage with us successfully. 

Finding opportunities to work with us 

This section explains where suppliers can register to find opportunities and provides an update on upcoming changes to our e-procurement system.  

Source East Midlands: our new e-sourcing platform: 

Nottingham City Council is moving to Source East Midlands, a shared e-sourcing and contract management platform used by: 

  • Nottingham City Council 
  • Derby City Council 
  • Leicester City Council 
  • Leicestershire County Council 
  • Nottinghamshire County Council 

Source East Midlands will become our main platform for procurement opportunities, tendering and contract management. It will give suppliers one place to view our contract opportunities, submit bids and manage contract-related information. 

Transition period

  • From late October 2026 to early 2027, opportunities may be published on either our current system, EastMidsTenders, or our new system, Source East Midlands, while we complete the transition. During this period, suppliers should: 
  • Register on Source East Midlands, if they have not already done so, so they are ready for future opportunities. 
  • Keep their contact details and other information up to date on both platforms. 
  • Check both systems regularly for procurement opportunities, messages and updates. 
  • Continue to use EastMidsTenders for any opportunities that remain active there until the transition is complete. 

Existing suppliers

If your organisation already has a contract with Nottingham City Council, you will receive an email shortly with further information and instructions on how to complete your registration. The registration link in that email will be the same as the link provided below. You do not need to wait for this email, as registration is open now. 

If you have already registered on Source East Midlands as you supply one of the partner councils and you do not need to create a second account. Your existing account can be used across all participating authorities. 

New potential suppliers

If your organisation is not registered on Source East Midlands, you can register here:  

Source East Midlands Homepage

Guidance documents

Registering As A New Supplier Organisation

Inviting Colleagues To Your Organisation

Two Factor Authentication

Company Details

During the transition period, you may also wish to register on the current e-tendering system so you can see all advertised opportunities: 

East Midlands Procurement Portal - Home

Benefits of registering

  • Quick and simple registration. 
  • Automatic alerts when new contract opportunities are published. 
  • Free to use, with online help, guidance and technical support available. 
  • Access to opportunities and information from anywhere. 

Find a Tender

All our tendered opportunities are also advertised on Find a Tender - GOV.UK. Guidance is available on the Cabinet Office pages and on the website under ‘Guide for Suppliers’.  

Commercial and Procurement strategy 2025-2029

Public money pays for the services, works and products we purchase; therefore, each procurement process aims to achieve value for money, fairness and transparency. It is a requirement of the regulations for contracting authorities to publicise procurement documents electronically.

Each procurement is assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether it is suitable for local supplier participation, in line with the Procurement Act 2023 and associated regulations. All tendered opportunities over £100k are advertised on Find a Tender, and where an opportunity is restricted to local suppliers, this will be clearly stated in the advert.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) will not affect the delivery of our services, and suppliers can continue to engage with Nottingham City Council as normal throughout the transition period; for the latest updates on regional LGR, please visit Local Government Reorganisation | Nottinghamshire County Council

Invitation to Tender 

PA23 now requires Suppliers to be registered on the Central Digital Platform (CDP) in order to participate in any Public Contract procurement exercise conducted under this legislation.  

Nottingham City Council require all suppliers to register both their basic and additional supplier information on the CDP, in order to participate in all Invitation to Tender exercises. 

Registration is quick and straightforward and should only take a few minutes.  

Please note: If you are already registered on the CDP from a previous procurement, you do not need to register again. 

Invitation to Quote 

Registration on the Central Digital Platform (CDP) is not required to participate. However, in order to be awarded a contract, you must be registered on the CDP and share your unique supplier identifier (PPON) with the Authority. 

Registration is quick and straightforward and should only take a few minutes. If you are already registered on the CDP from a previous procurement, you do not need to register again. 

At this stage, only basic supplier registration is required and there is no need to complete the additional supplier information sections. However, if you do choose to complete the full registration now, you will then be prepared to participate in future higher‑value procurements where this is mandatory. 

Please note: If you do not complete full registration on the CDP at this stage, we may request the relevant information as part of your tender response. 

NCC Supplier Guide Procurement Act 2023

Supplier Registration - short guide FINAL 

Suppliers: How to register your organisation and first administrator on Find a Tender in three easy steps (HTML) - GOV.UK 

 

NCC Purchase Order Terms and Conditions 

Nottingham City Council Terms of Usage: Supplier Portal

Public procurement law has changed, with new legislation introduced in February 2025. The Government Commercial function has made the following guidance available to help Suppliers prepare:

We have several lists of approved Providers that deliver services for the Council, new Providers can join the list at any time. To access the relevant documents and submit an application please click on one of the links below: 

We also regularly award contracts via external frameworks that have been established by the following organisations, please click the links below for more information: 

The Council has created a category management approach toward procurement. 

As a result, the purchases we make are category managed under the following groups:

People Commissioned Care, Support, Health, Community and Education Services
Places Construction, highways and major projects, Housing (HRA), Commercial and Domestic Heating, Construction Materials,
Products Corporate and Professional Services, Transport and Environment, CCTV

For more information about how we manage our categories, you can access a detailed breakdown.

The Nottingham City Council Procurement Strategy 2025-2029 sets out for the supplier market, and other stakeholders, the aims of the Council that are to be taken forward through our activity over the next five years. It outlines how procurement will use the Council’s spending power to drive our key objectives. 

Opportunities on our Procurement Plans and awarded contracts too on our Contracts Register, please access the Nottingham Data Hub page here:

Our contractors are expected to work in line with our relevant corporate standards, for more information please view the appropriate pages below:

Initiatives under the Public Services Social Value Act, please refer to the Nottingham City Council Business Charter

Guidance on Social Value and ways to maximise economic, social and environmental benefits in the delivery of goods, services and works, the 'taking account of social value in the award of central government

As part of Nottingham City Council’s commitment to delivering meaningful social value across the city, we are partnering with Match My Project—an initiative that connects suppliers with community organisations and residents to deliver impactful local projects.  

This is a collaboration with East Midlands Combined Authority and the Council encourages all suppliers to review and, where possible, participate in this programme. Suppliers can also post available resources for community organisations to access. 

Registration on this platform is free and includes a step-by-step guide on how you can get involved. You can find more information at the following link: Match my project

NCC Purchase Order Terms and Conditions 

Also see

Contact us

procurement@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Take our website survey

Please take a few moments to complete our survey and help us improve your experience.

Website Survey