Procurement Using Public Funding
As a publicly-funded organisation, Historic England and the recipients of our grants must follow procurement processes that ensure that we achieve value for public money.
How we spend public money
Procurement is the process of finding and buying works, equipment, goods and services. As a publicly funded organisation, Historic England must ensure that all the procurement we finance, whether directly or indirectly, is spent appropriately and in line (in varying degrees) with the Public Contract Regulations (PCR 2015). This is to ensure that we achieve value for public money in a fair and transparent manner.
There are 3 ways in which we spend public money:
- Direct spending through tendered projects and requirements, using Historic England's e-procurement portal
The full weight of the public regulations applies to these contracts. This is the procurement of general goods, services and works which allow us to do what we do as an organisation. For information on how we do this and how suppliers can apply for these contracts see our page on procurement - The procurement of tendered projects specifically through the Heritage Protection Commissions Programme
This programme provides funding for strategic research and to build skills and capacity in our historic environment. For further information, read our guidance on tendered projects - Indirect spending of public funding by third parties on grant-aided projects
Although not being spent directly by Historic England, grant recipients are expected to follow the Public Contract Regulations and must demonstrate that value for money will be achieved. Information about grants can be found on our page about our grant schemes
Transparent process
Direct public expenditure is subject to additional standards within the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The regulations require adoption of the following principles and aims:
- Equal treatment
- Non-discrimination
- Mutual recognition
- Proportionality
- Transparency
The regulations applied to grant recipient procurement
By spending public funding, grant recipients must follow the regulations and, therefore, have to appoint their main professional adviser and building contractor transparently. This will, where appropriate, involve advertising the work in advance and running a competitive process.
We encourage all grant recipients to follow the approach recommended in these pages. This will ensure that you can demonstrate value for money regardless of the level of the grant, as well as comply with the regulations for those projects they cover.
Please note that it is a condition of our grants that the procurement strategy should be agreed by us before tenders are sought.
Guidance for you
To help you carry out the procurement for your project, you can read our guidance on:
However, the suggested formats and methods on these pages are not the only ways to comply with the procurement regulations. If you are in any doubt, please contact your local Historic England office.
Procurement regulations and thresholds may be subject to change. If so, these web pages will be updated. Where any guidance here conflicts with the Guidance for Grant Recipients leaflet annexed to your grant offer, please treat these web pages as our most up-to-date guidance.
Local authorities and public bodies
Historic England can give grants to local authorities or other public bodies. According to the Public Contract Regulations 2015, they are considered 'contracting authorities' and must comply with the regulations. Written confirmation of compliance (including the appropriate thresholds and the local authority's Finance Manual) will be required.
