Aspiring Pathways Project

About the buyer

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority buys as a local government organisation, with its own Commercial and Procurement team supporting colleagues across the authority. Tenders are published through YORtender, the authority's e-procurement system. Some opportunities also appear on Contracts Finder and the Find a Tender Service. Smaller contracts go out as Requests to Quote, with Invitations to Tender used for larger opportunities. External frameworks including the Crown Commercial Service, YPO and NEPO let the authority procure goods, works and services without running a full tender. The team also builds social value into its procurement processes.

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 the West Yorkshire Combined Authority's contract awards have been in business services, software and information systems and architectural and engineering services.