Commercial opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
The Government recognises the important role of small and medium-sized enterprises in delivering UK economic growth and prosperity. To this end it actively encourages its own Departments to consider small firms when awarding contracts, and to try and reach out to the small firms sector to alert them to upcoming commercial opportunities. This section details the steps that the Department for Work and Pensions, the DWP’s largest civil Government Department, takes to actively engage with small firms and advises small firms of the best sources of information.
Competition
All DWP contracts are awarded by competition between potential suppliers unless there are very compelling reasons why competition is not appropriate, such as a monopoly supply situation.
The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) provides general advice and guidance for SMEs about dealing with the public sector. The OGC actively promote initiatives to reduce the bureaucracy involved in bidding for Government business and to make Government contracts more attractive and accessible for smaller organisations.
Contracts for labour market provision
Significant opportunities for smaller organisations lie with the Department’s largest agency, which awards large numbers of contracts each year for the provision of work based training, mentoring, job search skills support, and other services for Jobseekers.
All contracting opportunities are advertised on the Opportunities to tender page
Other contract opportunities
DWP contracts in the relevant categories are advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in line with the Department’s obligation under the EU Procurement Directives. You can access information on such upcoming contracts by accessing the OJEU website.
Sub-contracting opportunities
It is worth mentioning that two big areas of DWP expenditure – Information Technology services and Estates services – are governed by long-term strategic contracts with, respectively, Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Land Securities Trillium (LST) and British Telecom (BT). There may be opportunities for small firms to provide services subcontracted to the principal suppliers and you should contact EDS, LST or BT direct to discuss this and to register your interest.
Further help and advice
Any enquiries or feedback on this section can be provided by completing the Feedback Form, or by sending an e-mail to the Supplier Relationship Management team on QUARRYHOUSE.SUPPLYINGDWPQH@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK.