Procurement at MHCLG
Information about procurement at MHCLG and for those looking to become a supplier or contractor.
The Procurement Act 2023
Public procurement is changing. On 24 February 2025, the rules that shape how public bodies buy goods and services will change. The Procurement Act 2023 will improve and streamline the way procurement is done and benefit prospective suppliers of all sizes, particularly small businesses, start-ups, and social enterprises.
If your business supplies goods, works or services to organisations in the public or utility sectors – or hopes to do so in the future – you need to know about the changes. This includes supplying to MHCLG, other government departments, the NHS, local authorities, universities, schools, social housing organisations, police and fire brigades and utility companies.
To learn more about these changes including further reading and learning, see The Procurement Act: A short guide for suppliers and The Official Transforming Public Procurement Knowledge Drops.
MHCLG procurement
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) procurement team are responsible for high-value procurements valued above £12,000 inclusive of VAT. This includes procurements above WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) thresholds implemented through Procurement Policy Note 11/23: New Thresholds.
The Crown Commercial Service may on occasion manage procurements for common goods and services on behalf of MHCLG, such as ICT, consultancy, office solutions or communications.
All requirements for goods and/or services over £12,000 (inclusive of VAT) will involve the in-house procurement team and/or the Crown Commercial Service.
MHCLG often procures through contracting mechanisms placed by the Crown Commercial Service, including framework agreements. More information about the Crown Commercial Service, its frameworks and how to become a supplier can be found on the Crown Commercial Service webiste.
Transparency in procurement
Where MHCLG seeks contracts for goods and services up to £12,000 (inclusive of VAT) it will invite an adequate number of quotations from interested and capable suppliers to ensure they receive the required minimum number of quotations.
These contracts will use our standard .
Contracts of greater value will be subject to standard terms and conditions that are made available within tendering opportunities. Where procurement is through a framework, dynamic purchasing system or dynamic market, their terms and conditions will apply.
Contract opportunities
We are committed to providing visibility of contracting opportunities to interested organisations. We publish information about likely opportunities on the MHCLG procurement pipeline.
Under the Procurement Act 2023 we will publish pipeline notices for anticipated procurements valued at £2 million or more that will start within the financial year annually on the Find a Tender Service. These provide a forward look on potential opportunities and where known, how it is expected to be procured.
This information is provided in good faith and is based on our best available information. It does not commit us to either procure the goods or services identified, use the identified route nor maintain the indicative timetables provided. Where new contract opportunities arise after publication of our annual pipeline notices, where possible either Planned Procurement Notices or Pre-Market Engagement Notices will be published on Central Digital Platform.
Procurement opportunities valued at £12,000 (inclusive of VAT) or more may be advertised on the Find a Tender Service where the use of existing frameworks does not meet departmental needs.
Bidding for MHCLG opportunities
Where MHCLG seeks tender responses to opportunities it has advertised on the Find a Tender Service, bidders will be required to submit responses via the department’s electronic sourcing portal. Bidders must register their details to access these bidding opportunities. This, along with guides of the system can be found on the MHCLG Supplier Portal.
Contract information
Details of contracts that MHCLG awards are published on Find a Tender Service.
Contract performance information is published by MHCLG. This will be published either as part of central government publications on contract performance every quarter for contracts placed under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 or Concessions Contract Regulations 2016. This information is found on the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts.
For contracts awarded under the Procurement Act 2023 and the Procurement Regulations 2024, contract performance will be reported through the Find a Tender Service.
Information on departmental spend by MHCLG is available at Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: departmental spending over £250.
Sustainable procurement
The Greening Government Commitments covering the period from 2021 to 2025 include a sustainable procurement commitment requiring departments to report on their actions around sustainable developments.
MHCLG is committed to buying ‘greener’ products and services and aim to incorporate sustainable development into our thinking and our actions.
Spend controls
The Cabinet Office operates spending controls for particular categories that help government departments reduce wasteful expenditure. Read information on these controls and the thresholds that apply.
Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
The government recognises the important role of SMEs in delivering UK economic growth and prosperity.
In MHCLG, we encourage SMEs to bid for departmental business. We monitor the level of business SMEs receive from us directly by winning contracts. The Cabinet Office has published guidance of government measures to promote SME procurement and spend on direct and indirect SMEs – SMEs: A guide to working with government.
See also the MHCLG: small and medium-sized enterprise action plan.
Delivering social value through contracts
MHCLG is committed to generating outcomes from our contracts that support the communities we serve. Our procurement opportunities include a requirement for bidders to provide social value within its tender responses in line with Procurement Policy Note 06/2020.
Each contract requirement is considered against the Social Value Model to establish the most appropriate form of social value outcome we will seek. Bidders whose offers are accepted are expected to deliver not only the declared social value outcomes of their tenders but seek to maximise their impact in positive ways within the communities we work within and the UK.
Contact
You can contact us at this address:
The Procurement Team
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF