How to do business with Birmingham City Council

Corporate Procurement Services (CPS) is the purchasing section for Birmingham City Council. It provides specialist procurement advice and support to the Council in all aspects of purchasing goods and services ranging from ordering small simple orders through to Private Finance Initiatives.

CPS ensures that the Council's values and policies are integrated into the procurement process and comply with Council's rules and regulations, national and European law.

Birmingham City Council has launched Finditinbirmingham which is a free of charge web based information service for businesses with a SME’s in the region to access council initiated and private sector business opportunities.

All opportunities to supply Birmingham City Council with goods and services will only be advertised on www.finditinbirmingham.com, and interested businesses will respond through the website.

CPS wants to help and support small businesses and the third sector and has signed to a Concordat and encourage effective trade.

Birmingham City Council has a small business portal that gives advice on business about information and financial assistance. Please see Help and Support for Small Businesses.

Business Link have produced a comprehensive guide to Selling to Government which provides practical advice on the procurement process, procurement regulations and helps suppliers understand the tendering process for public sector contracts.

Procurement and Commissioning Strategy

Important Note for Suppliers

Birmingham City Council will soon be implementing an electronic tendering Tool which will run in conjunction with Finditinbirmingham and users will be able to

• View a list of tenders/contracts/quotations.
• Express interest in a particular tender or quotation.
• Receive tender and/or quotation documentation.
• Safely return tender or quotation documents
• Send and receive correspondence

Vendor Payments by Cheque

Birmingham City Council no longer pay vendors by cheque. If you are registered with BCC as a vendor and currently receive payment by cheque please email Vendordata@birmingham.gov.uk explain that you would like to set up BACS payment. Please ensure you include your vendor number. (BACS = Banks Automated Clearing System).

Ideal Invoice

To ensure prompt payment of invoices, please see the attached example of information required.