Summary
Identify the steps you need to take to buy goods and services for your school and stay compliant.
How you buy for your school depends on the amount you’re spending.
We have identified 5 main routes to follow to help you to buy:
- route 1: use a framework agreement, for purchases of all values
- route 2: use catalogues to find low value goods
- route 3: get at least 3 quotes from suppliers, for low or medium value purchases
- route 4: advertise a contract and run a buying process, for high value purchases under the PCR threshold
- route 5: run a buying process for high value purchases over the PCR threshold
The route you can take may depend on whether this value is below or above the public contract regulations (PCR) thresholds.
Check your school’s procurement rules to see what they define as low to high value. Department for Education (DfE) considers:
- low is under £10,000
- medium is £10,000 to £40,000
- high is over £40,000
Work through the following sections to prepare for a procurement, and to decide which route is best for you.
Contents
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How to get ready to buy things for your school to help you get the best deal and save money.
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The document you give to suppliers explaining what you want to buy.
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When to buy from a framework agreement, when to get bids or quotes and when to run a public contracts regulations (PCR) compliant buying process.
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How schools can buy from a framework agreement where they’re allowed to select the supplier directly.
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How schools can buy low value goods from catalogues
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How schools can buy low or medium value things by researching suppliers and getting at least 3 quotes.
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How schools can buy high value things, including how to advertise a contract and run a procurement process.
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How schools can buy high value things and comply with PCR procurement rules, including advertising a contract and running a buying process.
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What should be in a school's contract with their supplier, and how they should manage them throughout the buying process.
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How to avoid fraud and what to do if you suspect it.
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Keeping a fixed asset register