Supply policy and regulations

We aim to ensure that our procurement activity meets all legal, ethical, health and safety, environmental and sustainability requirements. Expenditure on goods and services has inevitable social, economic and environmental impacts and we consider these throughout the procurement cycle.  

The small and medium sized enterprise (SME) friendly procurement concordat recognises the important contribution that small businesses can make to the delivery of public services and asks local government to make its procurement process efficient, open and transparent so that it is easy for local businesses to work with it. We have already implemented some of the measures such as an easily accessible contract register.

There is further information for small and medium businesses in the tendering for public procurement guide and the South East Business Monitors guide to public procurement.

We are signatories to a compact with the voluntary sector whose aim is to improve working relationships and develop a framework for partnership between local government, the health service and other statutory agencies and the Voluntary and Community Sector, based on shared values and mutual respect.

The County Council has made a commitment to treat people as individuals. That means recognising what makes them a unique individual and adapting the way we work with them to reflect that. This commitment is based upon the simple principle that the County Council exists to serve all the people of West Sussex.

West Sussex County Council is committed to achieving and promoting sustainable development.

For information on TUPE, please see the the West Sussex County Council TUPE Code of Practice.

The WSCC Standing Orders on Procurement and Contracts which we follow ensure propriety, fairness, consistency, good practice and principles of best value in all contracts for services, supplies and works.

European Procurement Directives are the European rules that govern all public sector contracts. In our handbook How to do business with West Sussex Councils  we outline how they apply to our day to day procurement.

Please note: The 'How to do business with West Sussex Councils' document is currently under review and will be updated soon.

Our Health and Safety Policy sets out the required standard and WSCC assesses suppliers regularly to ensure compliance with Health & Safety legislation.

Suppliers should be aware of our whistleblowing policy.

Our Procurement Support Team follows the code of ethics recommended by the Chartered Institute of Purchase and Supply (CIPS).  CIPS exists to promote and develop high standards of professional skill, ability and integrity among supply management. 

The documents on this page are all PDF.