Procurement Policy and procedures

Take a look at Coventry University's Procurement Policy and Procedures.

Public Contract Regulations

Under PR2024 Coventry University will need to demonstrate a more detailed focus to deliver value for money, maximise public benefit, share information about policies and decision making, act with integrity, treat supplies the same (unless a valid justification is provided), and remove and reduce barriers for SMEs.

The PR2024 procedures set out in the regulations must be followed before awarding certain contracts when the value is above a certain threshold. The contracts should be advertised on Find a Tender, which is the central database for UK Government notices.

Thresholds are set at regular intervals by the UK Government and the current thresholds are set out below. From 1st January 2025 the PA2023 thresholds were set at £214,904 inc. VAT (£179.086 Exc. VAT) for goods and services, and £5,372,609 inc. VAT for works (£4,477,174 Exc. VAT).

Freedom of Information Act

Coventry University is committed to meeting its responsibilities under the Freedom of information Act 2000.

It should be noted by suppliers that the University may be required to disclose information submitted by a supplier in response to a competitive process, because of a Freedom of Information Act request. Should prospective suppliers consider that any of the information provided to the University is commercially sensitive, they must identify it and explain (in broad terms) what harm may result from disclosure if such a request were to be received, and the time-period applicable to that sensitivity.

Prospective suppliers should be aware that, even where they have indicated that information is commercially sensitive, the University may still be required to disclose it under the Act if a request is received. The receipt of any material marked ‘confidential,’ or equivalent should not be taken to mean that the University accepts any duty of confidence by virtue of that marking. The University therefore cannot guarantee that such data will not fall into the public domain.

For more information, please visit the Registry website to find out how to request information from the University.

Sustainable Procurement

Coventry University is committed to procuring goods and services that meet the objectives outlined in the University’s Sustainable Procurement Policy. This includes supporting environmental obligations, seeking to reduce poverty, inequality and ensure fair working practices.

Suppliers who wish to contract with the University must demonstrate performance in the key areas identified in the University’s Sustainable Procurement Policy, Environment Policy and ‘Our Ethical Aims and Objectives’ document. This may be through life cycle assessments of goods, or other means as appropriate.

View Coventry University’s Sustainable Procurement Strategy and Sustainable Procurement Policy.

The Bribery Act

The Bribery Act came into force in 1st July 2011 and has implications for the University, its staff and other persons associated with it including subsidiary companies, agents, suppliers, and other business partners.

1. Offering, promising, or giving a bribe to another person.
2. Requesting, agreeing to receive, or receiving a bribe.
3. Bribing a foreign public official to obtain or retain business.
4. Failing to prevent a person associated with the University from bribing someone else, anywhere in the world, to get or keep business or gain commercial advantage.

The University has adopted an “Ethical Code” (copy available on request)  which offers guidelines on best practice negotiating contracts, ordering goods and supplies, agreeing services, and any other activity where individual members of staff are involved in arrangements from which they could gain or be perceived to have gain, a personal benefit, whether financial or other (E.g. by enhanced standing or reputation), direct or indirect, or in which their personal connections could be deemed to interfere with the objectivity of a decision.

The Bribery Act 2010 can be viewed in more detail by following the Government link.

Modern Slavery Act