ABSTRACT
A contracting authority can also be made up of several elements of either variety. Public authorities are either ‘state, regional or local authorities’, with state authorities including entities with judicial, legislative or executive powers. Registered social landlords, including housing associations, come within the definition of ‘bodies governed by public law’ for the purposes of European Union (EU) procurement. Section 135 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires local authorities to make their own standing orders governing the letting of contracts for goods, works and services. In the 2007/2008 period, the Local Government Association launched its first National Procurement Strategy for Local Government with the Department for Communities and Local Government, and saw the formation of the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships. There are innumerable sources of information on current tenders both below and above the EU thresholds. The Supplier Feedback Service was a positive initiative originally set up by the Office of Government Commerce under the last Labour Government.
