Lucas Garden playground

About the buyer

London Borough of Southwark is a local authority in south London, and buys as a local government organisation with its contracts advertised through its own eProcurement portal. Suppliers register free on the portal to view and respond to live opportunities. Contract opportunities are also published on the London Portal, a shared system used by 22 further London boroughs. The council also procures through framework agreements for repeat requirements. Contractors seeking most construction work join an approved list before they can bid. The council keeps a public contract register to meet local government transparency requirements.

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 London Borough of Southwark's contract awards have been in health and social work, repair and maintenance and software and information systems.