Procurement at DfT

Doing business with us.

We can provide potential suppliers with information about our procurement activity, processes and contacts if required. These documents help suppliers understand our procurement processes. ​ The documents are:

Improving business opportunities for small and medium enterprises

An action plan showing the activity we are undertaking to improve business opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) including details for contacting us about opportunities for SMEs:

What suppliers can do

We value the specialist expertise, innovation and fresh ideas provided by SMEs:

  • SME case studies

To utilise the skills of SMEs on bigger projects, however, it may be necessary to use SMEs as sub-contractors to a main supplier. We actively encourage potential suppliers to sub-contract to smaller suppliers. By doing so, you will be helping us break down barriers to the participation of SMEs in government contracts.

Some of our best suppliers are engaging SMEs by:

  • supporting prompt payment (a particularly important issue for SMEs)
  • negotiating appropriate contract terms with their sub-contractors which do not place a disproportionate burden on smaller suppliers
  • actively seeking out specialist niche firms by holding events or carrying out other networking activities
  • advertising opportunities on contracts finder

What are you doing? Let us know at dftcommercial@dft.gov.uk.

Crown Representative for SMEs

Martin Traynor is the Crown Representative for SMEs.

The guide the ‘Doing business with government: a guide for SMEs’ conveys how we work with SMEs.

DFT procurement contacts

Group Commercial Services
Department for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR

Email: dftcommercial@.gov.uk Telephone: 020 7944 8288

Procurement at DfT’s agencies and other public bodies

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