We buy direct for smaller purchases. Larger contracts are awarded through a tendering process.

Buyer profile

Catalyst buys a variety of goods, works and services. These range from every day office supplies to multimillion pound construction contracts that help us deliver our strategic objectives.

Except for the very smallest purchases, these contracts are awarded through a competitive process – either by written quotations for minor expenditure or through a more formal tendering process.

For larger contracts, we follow procedures laid down by the European Union.

Procurement policy

Our procurement policy sets out our approach to ensuring we purchase fairly and efficiently. Catalyst’s head of procurement is responsible for delivering this policy, but every member of staff who is involved in making purchasing decisions is required to follow the policy and the contract procedure rules underlying it.

Download a copy of our procurement policy:

Procurement Policy 2012-15

The procurement policy ensures that:

• performance standards and monitoring strategies are developed
• cost information is properly identified and collected
• innovation is encouraged
• social values and Catalyst’s policy objectives are protected
• probity, accountability and competitive neutrality are ensured
• responsibilities and accountabilities of all parties are clear in the contract

Accessing Catalyst contract opportunities

We will publish Prior Information Notices in respect of contracts subject to EU Regulations. In order to be transparent we will also provide advance notice of forthcoming contracts which are below the EU Threshold value, or where a Prior information Notice is not required.

Catalyst does not maintain its own approved lists of contractors. We use Constructionline to select tender lists for minor works. However, the majority of works and services are delivered through long term contract arrangements, including partnered term contracts and framework agreements.

Prospective service providers may only bid in relation to advertised contracts, and only in response to a written invitation to participate in a competitive procedure. Opportunities to express interest may be advertised on this page, or in the EU portal Tenders Electronic Daily, or both.

Forthcoming contracts

Find out more about our forthcoming contracts.