BiP Solutions provides public sector contract information and offers suppliers and buyers access to a database of open contract opportunities including the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). www.bipcontracts.co.uk
Central Buying Consortium is a local authority buying consortium through which we can access a number of contracts. www.cbconline.org.uk
Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply is the professional body that represents procurement in the public and private sector. www.cips.org
Improvement and Development Agency (IdeA) exist to transform the local government sector through a range of improvement and development programmes. It aims to deliver practical solutions to improve performance through sharing best practises. www.idea.gov.uk
Office for Government Commerce (OGC) works with central and local government to improve procurement and project and programme management. It also works with suppliers to make the government marketplace more efficient and attractive to business. www.ogc.gov.uk
Public Private Partnerships Programme (4ps) is the local government project procurement agency. Its goal is to lead the provision of project support and independent advisory services to all local authorities in England and Wales to enable them to improve their procurement capability, particularly for large projects and partnerships. www.4ps.gov.uk
Society of Procurement Officers in Local Government (SOPO) aim is to advise local authorities throughout the UK on all purchasing and supplies matters of national and general interest. Through membership of SOPO, procurement officers join together to share best practice and influence the national agenda on best value. www.sopo.org.uk
South East Centre of Excellence (SECE) role is to embrace support for councils in the South East region in responding to the National Procurement Strategy and the wider (Gershon) efficiency targets. www.rcoe.gov.uk
The Kent Connects Partnership (KPC) has been formed to assist its partner's in delivering their e-government strategies in line with the government policy. This includes e-procurement. The KPC will implement a portal for people & organisations across Kent who wish to access local authority services by electronic means. www.kentconnects.com
The National Procurement Strategy was published in 2003 and identifies ways in which Local Government can improve procurement, and sets out a route map to improve service delivery, as well as milestones for Councils to benchmark themselves against. www.odpm.gov.uk
