Common Bank, Whitfield - Ground Investigation

About the buyer

Northumberland County Council delivers local government services across Northumberland and buys as a local authority through its procurement team. Tender opportunities are published through Open, the council's procurement system that replaced the North East Procurement Organisation portal. Suppliers register free of charge on Open before bidding for contracts. Open also carries procurement opportunities from regional local authorities across the North East. A public contracts register lists the council's live and awarded agreements for transparency. A Supplier Incentive Programme also lets registered suppliers opt into early payment on invoices.

UK local government drives £140bn in annual procurement, led by social protection (£66.6bn) and education (£57.1bn).

Over the past 5 years, most of Northumberland County Council's contract awards have been in construction work, software and information systems and architectural and engineering services.