V&A touring exhibition (Poole Museum)

About the buyer

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council is a local authority that buys through its Procurement and Contract Management Service, a team of 24 procurement and contract management professionals. Every openly advertised opportunity is published on Find a Tender. Bids are invited through ProContract, where suppliers register to receive notifications and express interest. The team runs a category management approach that gives a cross-council view of every spend area. A searchable contracts register lists awarded contracts, frameworks, concessions and dynamic purchasing systems. Goods, services and works are bought either by invitation to quote or by competitive tender.

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 Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council's contract awards have been in health and social work, IT services and transport equipment.