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Tendering
We spend an average of £100 million each year on supplies, services, works and concessions. On average, 85 per cent of our annual spend is with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
We seek to achieve the best commercial outcome from our procurement, while making sure that the purchase of supplies, services and works achieve value for money by making a positive difference to the people and communities in Belfast. A missed opportunity to deliver social value is a cost that must be absorbed elsewhere in public services.
The process we use depends on the contract value.
| Contract value | Process |
|---|---|
| Up to £3,000 | No formal competition. Our officers make sure there is value for money |
| Between £3,000 and £8,000 | Formal competition with quotation from selected number of suppliers (minimum three). Not publicly advertised |
| Between £8,000 and £30,000 | Formal competition with quotation from selected number of suppliers (minimum four). Not publicly advertised |
| Over £30,000 | Tender: competitive procurement procedure. Tender is advertised on Tender opportunities and eSourcing website |
| Over UK threshold | Tender: competitive procurement procedure in line with the Procurement Act 2023 Tender is advertised on our Tender opportunities, eSourcing website and Find a tender (link opens in new window). |
For quotations valued up to £30,000, we encourage suppliers to register with us.
Tenders greater than £30,000 are procured by the eSourcing website.
We have a number of different departments. Each department is responsible for different areas of work and for procuring contracts valued at £30,000 or less. The information in the table sets out the areas of work, examples of what we buy in each area, the responsible department and contact details.
To receive our latest procurement opportunities, policy updates and training information, join our tenders and procurement mailing list.
We are consulting on a new Sustainable Procurement Policy which will help guide how we buy goods, services and works in a way that delivers the best outcomes for Belfast. The proposed policy sets out how we can use our spending power to support local businesses, create jobs, strengthen communities, promote ethical business practices and help tackle climate change, while continuing to achieve value for money.
The policy is built around three themes:
It aims to ensure that the money we spend supports fair and responsible suppliers, creates opportunities for local people and businesses, and contributes to Belfast's ambitions for a more inclusive, resilient and low-carbon future.
Our consultation closes on Thursday 8 October 2026.
Complete the consultation survey (link opens in new window)
If you have any queries or feedback about a procurement process you have been involved in, contact Commercial and Procurement Services by email [email protected].
Our procurement activity is governed by the Procurement Act 2023 which includes the ability to make appeal, also known as a remedy. This legislative framework is only applicable for procurement activity over a stipulated threshold. The current thresholds (including VAT) are:
When a procurement exercise is under the thresholds and remedies are not available, this does not prevent a bidder from seeking damages. Before seeking damages, a bidder should get their own legal advice.
If a supplier is unhappy with the outcome of a procurement process, they should, in the first instance, contact Commercial and Procurement Services by emailing [email protected]. Where the matter cannot be satisfactory resolved it will be escalated to our corporate complaints process.
If you wish to make a complaint or have already contacted us about a procurement via e-Sourcing NI or [email protected] you can use our corporate complaints process. This process is on the Corporate Complaints Office page.
If you're interested in our procurement activity and contracts, read our Freedom of Information webpage.
For more information and advice, get in touch.
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