Procurement
Helping you deliver more for less
How we can help
We’re innovative, customer-service-focused and work in line with legislation, public procurement regulations and industry best practice. And we consider the environmental, sustainability and social impact of procurements too.
As a not-for-profit organisation, we share our clients’ public sector mindset. This drives our ambitions for continuous improvement and to deliver the best value for UK taxpayers.
UKSBS service level agreements mean prompt responses and speedy turnaround. Our Continuous Improvement team is always looking for efficiencies and combined spend benefits. Additional support is provided by our Policy and Compliance team, who ensure that legislation is correctly applied to processes, systems and documents.
How we work with you
We’ll work hand in hand with your commercial team, adding capacity, taking on volume and adding expertise.
For lower value purchasing, you’ll have access to our self-service system. This allows you to raise requisitions, provide purchase orders and trigger payments on receipt, all with support from our Procurement Transactional Team.
For higher value purchasing, you’ll have access to our category experts. They’ll work with you to define the best procurement route to market, establish timetables and manage everyday procurement milestones.
You’ll also have ready access to our Contact Centre Team, who are our first point of support for advice and queries about procurements or related payments.
What we provide
Specialist advice and hands-on support for buyers
Our customer support services provide first-line support for procurement order processing under £10K. For your more complex and high value requirements, our expert procurement professionals work alongside you on everything from end-to-end procurement activities, advice on best procurement routes, supplier performance and management information data.
Category management
Strategies based on demand profiles, historic spend and market intelligence. These are always in line with competition regulations to drive maximum value for clients.
Sourcing goods and services
Clear advice on the most appropriate route to achieve exactly what’s needed, on budget, on time and considering commercial and operational risk. This includes preparing the tender documentation, managing timelines, using our electronic sourcing system and final contract arrangements.
Contract management
Working under the Cabinet Office Contract Management Framework, we provide Commercial Contract Management and Strategic Supplier Relationship Management.
Purchasing and requisition processing
Smooth and timely processing from requisition and approval to issuing purchase orders.
Automated order management
Simple, efficient and cost effective ordering of goods and services, through contract–based online catalogues and automated forms for same day ordering.
Commercial market intelligence
Including supplier and supply chain assurance, ranging from supplier briefs and news, to credit reports and active monitoring for risks.
Our partnerships
We work with Crown Commercial to maximise the benefits of collaborative procurement across the public sector.
We also share knowledge and access to procurement agreements across the university sector via their procurement consortia.
Additionally, we have a small number of framework agreements within the Scientific Research Category, which are available to the research community and their buyers.