Guidance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
If it is your first-time bidding for a public sector contract, please take a look at the following guidance documents. They show you where to start and provides valuable tips, so you have your best chance:
- SME Public Sector Procurement Guidance (PDF, 332.77kB)
- SME Public Sector Procurement Guidance - A Focus on Social Value (PDF, 392.39kB)
- SME Public Sector Procurement Guidance - A Focus on Climate (PDF, 668.5 KB)
Help for vendors
These links may be useful if you’re bidding on an Essex County Council contract:
- EU procurement directives and the UK regulations
- Information Policy: Requirements for Contractors (PDF, 323.15 KB)
- EU procurement thresholds (PDF, 152KB)
Also, before bidding, please visit:
- Our Social Value priorities
- Compliance with the Modern Day Slavery Act 2015
- Supplier Sustainability Charter (PDF, 412.33 KB)
Manage your payments
Use our iSupplier service to manage purchase orders, invoices, view payments and your supplier records.
Approved suppliers will get a login email from epwc.fa.sender@workflow.mail.em2.cloud.oracle.com.
Manage your contracts
Log in to Proactis to access your current contract records, update key contract information and receive contract communications from ECC.
Get paid
When performing work for the Council, the Council operates a No PO, No Pay policy, you will not be able to submit an invoice unless you have been issued a Purchase Order
We can offer a choice to Submit invoices, and offer Portals or Invoice Capture. Approved suppliers will be invited to join the service.
Payment Terms
The Councils standard payment terms are 30 days from RECEIPT of a valid invoice to the official submission point, as per the instruction displayed on your Purchase Order, unless payment terms held in your signed contract are different.
Contact us
Procurement
If you need help with the procurement process, please email procurement.team@essex.gov.uk.
Help with contracts or getting paid
If you need help managing contracts using iSupplier or getting paid using Marketplace, please email AP.servicecentre@essex.gov.uk.
Bus contracts
For help registering as a bus operator, please email Passenger.Transport@essex.gov.uk.