Defra purchases a wide range of goods and services and is keen make it easier for prospective and existing suppliers to do business with us.  Our publication “Selling to Defra: a guide for suppliers” – currently under revision – explains our approach and processes.

Contact us

You can contact us by emailing procurement@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Tendering for contracts

We are keen to offer under represented businesses such as SMEs and Voluntary and Community Services organisations the same opportunities to compete for our contracts as other qualified suppliers by widely publicising our procurements, e.g. using the following online portals:

• Defra’s e-tendering site – you can browse tendering opportunities and manage your tender activity (registration is required).
• CompeteFor – a free online marketplace, offering contract opportunities from Defra and other major public and private sector buying organisations.
• Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) – publishes adverts and notices for tenders and contracts.
• Business Link Contract Finder – free online facility for finding public sector contracts and sub-contracting opportunities.

Sustainable procurement

Defra is committed to procuring sustainably: defining the need, evaluating options, design and specifying, supplier selection, tender evaluation, post-contract management and supplier development.

Related Defra procurement initiatives

• Food procurement
• Timber procurement

Key documents and tools

• Defra’s sustainable procurement policy statement
• Defra’s equality and diversity strategy
• Defra’s ethical procurement policy statement
• Greening Government Commitments
• Standard sustainability conditions of contract for goods and services

Supporting small businesses

We encourage large organisations that have won contracts with us to publicise related business opportunities to SMEs and Voluntary and Community Services organisations, as a means of helping to increase the range and diversity of their supply chains.

• Winning the Contract – online course to help suppliers identify for opportunities to supply the public sector with hints and tips on the bidding process.

Government sustainability requirements

Suppliers should consider social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability with reference to:

• Greening Government Commitments: Operations and Procurement (PDF 450 KB, published February 2011)

Sets out the Government’s commitments for 2010- 2015 to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, reduce waste, reduce water usage and procure more sustainably.

• Government Buying Standards

The minimum level “Government Buying Standards” are mandatory in Central Government.  There are also voluntary, higher level “Best Practice” and “Class Leader” standards.

• EU’s Green Public Procurement (GPP) standards

Defra is working to align the Government Buying Standards with these standards so that they are at least as good, if not better.

• Carbon budgets

The budgets set the trajectory for achieving the Government’s 2050 target of an 80% reduction in carbon emissions.

• CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme

The scheme operates a ‘cap and trade’ mechanism, providing a financial incentive to reduce energy use in large organisations by putting a price on carbon emissions.  In CRC, organisations buy allowances equal to their annual emissions.

• Energy Performance of Buildings

EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive requires: energy certificates for buildings on construction, sale and lease; and large public sector buildings to display energy certificates to the public.

• BREEAM: Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method

Measures best practice in environmental design and management. Public sector bodies must achieve a rating of: “excellent” in new builds; and at least “very good” in major refurbishments.