Carmarthenshire County Council spends approximately £170 million per annum on goods, works and services, providing businesses of all sectors and sizes with a range of commercial opportunities- incorporating SME’s, Third Sector Organisations and other Minority Groups.

Carmarthenshires Procurement Unit’s (CPU) primary role is to ensure that maximum efficiency is obtained through its procurement activities.

Carmarthenshire County Council (CCC) procure anything from cross stitch to construction and countless things in between.

The Council employ over 9000 staff within 6 departments with a procurement focus within each department.

The Council has a devolved approach to purchasing, whereby the purchasing activities of each of the Council’s departments are the direct responsibility of individual budget holders, who have the ability to place orders and tender for contracts.

CCC procures their goods, works and services in a “responsible” manner with its procurement activity being regulated by the Corporate Procurement Unit (CPU).

CPU by means of conforming to relevant codes of practice, procedures, rules, regulations and Directives ensure that all procurement obtains best value for money at all times and is undertaken in an open, transparent and non-discriminatory manner.

CPU works with the Welsh Assembly Government’s “Value Wales Procurement Team” and others to investigate innovative ways of providing best practice advice and guidance to our potential suppliers.

CPU is committed to achieving maximum value for money from the public purse by delivering social, environmental & economic benefits to our communities wherever possible.

CCC is a member of the Welsh Purchasing Consortium (WPC) and is committed to collaborative procurement by working together in partnership with other Local Authorities to maximise the value we get from our contracts.

The Authority also continues to work with the wider Public Sector in Wales to ensure that any collaborative action does not dilute the sustainable approach to procurement.

This is achieved through the use of intelligent procurement e.g. the use of “lots” (these may be geographic, financial, or other packages of work) which allow smaller bidders equal opportunity to bid for parts of a larger contract. Collaborative early engagement of the market to inform contract packaging options is another way in which all partners can ensure that smaller and third sector businesses in their areas can be encouraged to bid for work.

Building 8
St Davids Park
Jobswell Rd, Carmarthenshire
SA31 3HP
Tel: 01267 246241

Email: procurement@carmarthenshire.gov.uk