The RSSB Supply Chain Department manages all the legal and contractual arrangements associated with third party expenditure - the team’s aim is to ensure this is conducted in accordance with best practice procurement principles; by doing this, we help protect the interests of RSSB. 

Bidders are selected on a project by project basis directed by the RSSB supply chain team and agreed by each project steering group which typically consists of an RSSB Research Manager, an industry expert or experts and a TSAG member.   It is important that the most cost effective and efficient way to source the requirement is selected. Some methods we use to achieve this are:

Expression of Interest (EoI)

RSSB may issue an Expression of Interest (EoI) to several sources soliciting interest and/or information to pre-qualify companies when the service sought is unusual or there may be many suppliers in that market.

Using high level criteria, there will be an initial short-listing by those involved in the project (usually a ‘panel’).  RSSB will then choose to issue an ITT – ‘Invitation to Tender’ to selected respondents.

 

 

Invitation to Tender (ITT)

Invitation to Tender is a standardised document by which RSSB invites suppliers, based on their capabilities, to submit a tender (bid) for a project. It includes the conditions for the submission of the tender and proves the terms and conditions of contract and the technical specification.

 

 

Invitation to Quote (ITQ)

An ITQ is a quicker and less comprehensive ITT where RSSB invites suppliers to submit quotes for services to obtain a competitive bid.

This method is usually applied where the requirement is straight forward and relatively low risk and/or low value.

 

 

Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU)

OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union), is the publication in which contracts from the public sector are published. For RSSB OJEU is a non mandatory tool to increase the level of competition by generating interest in the market beyond our existing database.   

 

Single Tender Action (STA)

If we feel it is inappropriate to undertake a competitive process, we could procure services through the STA route. This is where we invite 1 bidder to submit a proposal for the outlined project.