Low Value Purchase System

Low cost, low value and uncomplicated common goods and services including from Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) suppliers.

Description

All of the public sector, their associated bodies and agencies can use this agreement to buy a wide range of common goods and/or services. The value of the contract for these goods and services must not exceed the limits set out in the Procurement Policy Note (PPN) for Public Contract Thresholds 11/23.

Suppliers can apply to join this agreement at any time, including Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) suppliers.

You can use the Low Value Purchase System to award a contract instead of advertising it on Contracts Finder. You can either use direct award or run a mini competition (getting multiple suppliers to propose a solution) to select a supplier. If you choose direct award, you will need to make sure that it is in line with your corporate procurement policy.

You can filter the supplier list by:

  • the type of goods or services
  • the postcode radius which suppliers can supply the goods or services
  • if the supplier is an SME or VCSE

Through this agreement we can offer products and services for:

  • agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products
  • agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services
  • agricultural machinery
  • petroleum products, fuel, electricity and other sources of energy
  • mining, basic metals and related products
  • chemical products
  • electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; Lighting
  • rail, air and sea auxiliary products
  • security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
  • sewage, refuse, cleaning, and environmental services
  • industrial machinery
  • machinery for mining, quarrying, construction equipment
  • musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories
  • food, beverages and related products
  • clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories
  • leather and textile fabrics, plastic and rubber materials
  • collected and purified water
  • installation services (this does not include software)
  • hotel, restaurant and retail trade services
  • transport services with driver/operator (this does not include waste transport)
  • supporting and auxiliary transport services and travel agencies services
  • education and training services
  • permanent recruitment and contingent labour (excluding recruitment in the education and healthcare sector)
  • recreational, cultural and sporting services
  • research services
  • other community, social and personal services
  • translation services
  • IT services and support

The Low Value Purchase System has been established by Crown Commercial Service (CCS) under Part 4 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 for suppliers who are able to provide goods and or services where the value of the contract is below the relevant thresholds for Part 2 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 to apply.

Benefits

  • a simple solution for below threshold requirements
  • a flexible route to market where suppliers can join at any time
  • it supports the government’s SME policy
  • contributes to the Social Value outcome of increasing supply chain resilience and capacity by creating a diverse supply chain to deliver contracts including new businesses and entrepreneurs, SMEs and VCSEs
  • uses a dynamic filtering system, giving customers flexibility based on the common goods and services they want, their SME status, and their location
  • dynamic filters ensure that the right suppliers are notified about opportunities relevant to the common goods and services they are able to provide
  • fully compliant with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015
  • aligns with Procurement Policy Note (PPN) for Public Contract Thresholds 11/23
  • direct award is compliant with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (customers should make sure it is compliant with their organisation’s procurement policy)

How to buy

You can run a mini competition to select a supplier. There is also the option to direct award, you will need to ensure compliance with your corporate procurement policy.

Before you run your mini-competition, find out which suppliers could meet your requirements using the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) Marketplace. 

The steps below outline how to search for suppliers, create a shortlist and carry out a mini competition.

  1. Register on the Supplier Registration Service Dynamic Purchasing System Marketplace (although pages are headed ‘Supplier registration’ this is also where you can register as a buyer)
  2. Navigate to the Low Value Purchase System and access by agreeing to the terms of use 
  3. Use filters to enter contract requirements and filter appropriate suppliers
  4. Export the list of suppliers. We recommend that the exported supplier list is used within 2 working days, as new suppliers may be applying to join at any point, which changes the list of potential suppliers
  5. Create a competition on your chosen eProcurement/tendering system, inviting the  suppliers you’ve identified and outlining the specification, evaluation criteria and contract format 
  6. Conduct competition and evaluate: please make sure you give suppliers enough time to review and prepare a response
  7. Decide on which supplier/s you want to use
  8. Return to LVPS and ask for any required evidence from winning supplier/s. 
  9. Suppliers will then share evidence through the system (it is recommended to do so within 2 days for non-complex projects, more complex projects will allow for more time) 
  10. Once you’re satisfied with the evidence, proceed to award
  11. Inform CCS of the contract award by contacting: info@crowncommercial.gov.uk 
  12. Issue the contract award notice/contracts finder notice

Documents