Doncaster Council

Details of the strategy

Procurement is an activity which covers much more than the simple act of making a purchase. It means the process we go through to obtain all services, works and goods required by the Council to enable the delivery of services and the achievement of the Council's objectives. 

Two aspects of procurement can be distinguished and are covered by this Strategy:

• the strategic core function of determining strategy and organisation ensures that services are purchased and delivered effectively
• the professional task of procurement covers both the traditional purchasing of goods and services for Departments and, the contracting for services direct to the community.  

Procurement is concerned with the management of the entire supply chain from manufacturer/service provider/works contractor to end-user. Every specific need has to be analysed in relation to its particular market and no standard formula or administrative process will suffice. The essential task is to identify the optimum route to achieve Best Value in each instance and to employ maximum skill and determination in achieving it. 

Best Value requires Authorities to develop new capacities - either alone or with others - to analyse supply markets and identify what such markets can provide. Selection of the best suppliers and managing new forms of relationships with them will lead to the continuous improvement of services.

The Strategy outlines the aims and objectives of the procurement process (i.e. value for money) and describes the methods the Council will use to achieve these objectives. It is a high level statement of principles and practice, and is supplemented by a Best Practice Guide setting out the detail of procurement methods, practices and organisation.

The strategy is currently under review and will be published shortly.