Red tape cut for firms’ council contract bids

A NEW initiative has been launched to cut red tape and costs for firms chasing millions of pounds of contracts from two South East councils.

East Sussex and Surrey County Councils have created a new website – which can be found at www.sesharedservices.org.uk/esourcing – to make it easier for businesses to bid for deals worth more than £100,000.

The site lets firms register once to bid for contracts in both counties instead of making more costly approaches to both separately and slashes red tape by simplifying the bidding process.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In addition, businesses can pitch for joint East Sussex and Surrey contracts.

It is part of an effort to promote economic growth which has also seen the county councils create Build East Sussex and BuildSurrey websites to help firms pitch for building and repair work from the councils, their main contractors and others in the public sector.

The news comes just days after East Sussex and Surrey won £750,000 of government funding to drive forward public service innovation.

It is expected that up 150 opportunities a year will be advertised and there are plans to expand the site to include other local authorities.